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LADY, HTJNTIIGDON 



POKTEAYED 



INCLUDING 



BRIEF SKETCHES OF SOME OF HER FRIENDS 
AND CO-LABORERS. 



BY THE AUTHOK OF 

THE MISSIONARY TEACHER," 'SKETCHES OF MISSION LIFE," ETC. 



TKL>u^'ci^ ^ y^^^M^aJ 



Kk^o. 



L ( 







PUBLISHED BY CARLTON" & POETER, 

SirNDAY-SOHOOL UNION, 200 M IT LB ERR Y-8TKB ET. 







Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, 

Ey CARLTON & PORTER, 

the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District 
of New- York. 



[THE LIBRARY 
|Oy CONGRESS 

»AtB^HOTOH 



INTRODUCTION, 



At the commencement of the last cen- 
tury, a death-like slumber rested upon the 
Church of Christ. Spiritual life remained, 
however, in the hearts of a few. During 
the dark night which intervened between 
the decline of the Lutheran Reformation 
and the rise of the Wesleyan revival, the 
Gospel had some witnesses of its Divine 
power. The Wesley family, for several 
generations, had been earnest defenders of 
evangelical truth, and the maternal grand- 
father of John Wesley, Dr. Samuel Annes- 
ley, had scattered precious seeds of a spir- 
itual religion. Philip Doddridge and Dr. 
Watts, with many kindred spirits, were 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

removing the obstacles to the ushering in 
of a better day upon the nations. And 
when that day did dawn, under the hon- 
ored labors of the Wesleys and Whitefield, 
the poor were the first to rejoice in its 
light. The benighted colliers of Kings- 
wood, the pleasure-seeking crowds of Ken- 
nington Common, the untaught, uncared-for 
inmates of the jails and almshouses, and 
the almost heathen multitudes in the huts 
of poverty throughout England, heard with 
astonishment the words of truth, and fell 
subdued at the feet of Christ. Not only 
did the chains of their thralldom fall off, 
but tongues were given them to proclaim 
their freedom to others. From the ranks 
of the lowly came wisdom which con- 
founded the worldly wise, and from classes 
in society which had been dumb in re- 
ligion, proceeded an eloquence which over- 
powered all the oratory of the schools. 



INTRODUCTION. 



So general were awakenings and conver- 
sions among the masses, that, to an unat- 
tentive observer, it miglit seem as if persons 
of noble birth, the rich and powerful, were 
like the snow-covered mountain top, while 
the spring showers were gladdening the 
vale. But not so. The leaders of the great 
work, by their talents, learning, and, most 
of all, their spiritual baptism, gained tro- 
phies to the Redeemer from the colder and 
no less irreligious circles of the aristocracy. 

Illustrations of piety among the lowly 
have been frequently given to the Church 
and the world. The biographies of John 
Nelson, Samuel Hick, and William Daw- 
son, with kindred writings, have done great 
good. But lest the Church should forget 
that, with God^ the conversion of the rich 
and noble in birth is possible, it needs to 
laiow that the Gospel ministry has had some 
seals among them also. Thus the power 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

of Divine grace may be seen as well in the 
humility of the great, as in the sanctified 
exaltation of the poor. 

To extend the influence of this great 
truth, we have written these pages. 

The author trusts that it will assist also 
in illustrating that eventful portion of the 
history of the Church to which it belongs. 
He hopes that it will stimulate some to 
labor and suffer reproach for Christ's sake. 
K this be accomplished, he will rejoice that 
he has not written in vain. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

LIFE WELL BEGUN. 

NOBLE BIRTH — AN INCIDENT OF CHILDHOOD — FONDNESS FOR 
READING — PERSONAL INFLUENCE — MARRIAGE — LORD HUNT- 
INGDON DONNINGTON PARK MEANS OF RELIGIOUS LIGHT 

— SICKNESS — THE NEW LIFE — KNOWLEDGE OF HER SON- 
SHIP PAGE 15 

CHAPTER n. 
STRIKING CONTRASTS OE CHARACTER. 

THE CHANGE APPARENT — THE BISHOP AND THE COUNTESS — 

LADY POLITICIANS ATTACK UPON THE HOUSE OF PEERS 

A FAR DIFFERENT SCENE — THE COUNTESS AND THE POOR 
LABORER DUCHESS OP MARLBOROUGH DUCHESS OP BUCK- 
INGHAM 24 

CHAPTER HI. 
EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 

THE COUNTESS AND THE WESLEYS — WHITEFIELD — FIELD-PREACH- 
ING DIVISIONS AT FETTER LANE — THE FOUNDERY — LAY 

PREACHERS — JOHN NELSON — ANOTHER " HELPER " — LETTEK 

TO JOHN WESLEY DEEP RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE — WESLEY 

AT DONNINGTON PARK — WHITEFIELD AND THE COUNTESS — 
WHITEFIELD AND THE LORDS CHESTERFIELD AND BOLINGBROKE 

— HORACE WALPOLE — " THE DEVIL'S CASTAWAYS " — THE 
COUNTESS DELITZ OLD AFFECTIONS RENEWED 42 



10 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER IV 

LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 

• 

THE EOD OP GOD — EARLY CHASTENINGS — FAMILY MATTERS — 
DEATH OF LORD HUNTINGDON — PERSONAL SICKNESS — DR. 
STONEHOUSE — RELIGIOUS FEELING IN SICKNESS — LETTER 

FROM BERRIDGE CONDOLENCE FROBI FLETCHER DEATH OF 

ANOTHER SON — SELINA — HER CHARACTER SICKNESS AND 

DEATH MORE WORDS OF CONSOLATION YOUNG LORD HUNT- 
INGDON THE COUNTESS'S OLDEST DAUGHTER, LADY MOIRA 

SISTER-IN-LAW'S AFFLICTION EARL OF FERRERS — HIS CRIME 

— STRANGE CONDUCT AFTER HE WAS CONDEMNED PAGE 74 

CHAPTER V. 

THE NOBLE FEW. 

LADY ANN FRANKLAND THE MARQUIS AND MARCHIONESS OF 

LOTHIAN — LORD ST, JOHN LADY FANNY SHIRLEY LADY 

CHESTERFIELD — COUNTESS DELITZ LADY GERTRUDE HOTHAM 

DEATH OF HER DAUGHTER — YOUNG LORD HOTHAM — DEATH 

OF MOTHER AND SON — LORD AND LADX" BUCHAN THE CHIL- 
DREN LORD AND LADY DARTMOUTH — PRINCE OF WALES 98 

CHAPTER VI. 

DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 

THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTESS'S CHOICE — DR. WATTS PHILIP 

DODDRIDGE WILLIAM GRIMSHAW — ROMAINE — BERRIDGE — 

ANECDOTE OF BERRIDGE AND FLETCHER — FLETCHER AN OP- 
PONENT'S OPINION OF HIM VENN — MARTIN MADAN 

"TAKING OFF THE OLD METHODIST" LADY GLENORCHY.. 122 

CHAPTER VII. 
ITINERANT LABORS. 

LADY HUNTINGDON'S CONFERENCES — " CONNECTION " — CANVASS- 
ING THE KINGDOM — PROMINENT FIELDS OF LABOR — LON- 
DON — TOTTENHAM COURT CHAPEL — FRUITS — EWER-STREET — 

MULBERRY GARDENS CHAPEL — BRIGHTON THE SOLDIER'S WIFE 

A SINGULAR CASE — CHAPEL — OATHALL — CAPTAIN SCOTT 



CONTENTS. 11 



— " OLD ABRAHAM " — BEREIDGE'S BEES — TUNBRIDGE WELLS — 
THRUSTING FORTH LABORERS BATH CHAPEL WESLEY — BRIS- 
TOL TABERNACLE " THE THEATER " AT BIRMINGHAM.. PAGE 160 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 

THE SCHOOL PROJECTED — JOURNEY THROUGH WALES TREVECCA 

— THE SCHOOL FIRST SCHOLAR FLETCHER AT TREVECCA 

BERRIDGE PROTESTS AGAINST IT THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY 

BENSON HIS RECOLLECTION OF FLETCHER'S VISITS REVIVAL 

INFLUENCE 192 

CHAPTER IX. 

HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 

THE OLD OPPOSITION ENMITY OF THE GREAT DR. WARBURTON 

— SNEERS AMUSING ACCUSATIONS — BISHOP LAVINGTON 

HATRED "WEST END" OF LONDON — MIMICRY AND RIDICULE 

"POOR RAMBLE" A REASONABLE MAGISTRATE — A HARD 

CLERGYMAN THE DESPISED STUDENTS A PLOT BERRIDGE 

AND HIS ENEMIES HIS LETTER TO THE COUNTESS 210 

CHAPTER X. 

UNHAPPY IRELAND. 

INTEREST OF THE COUNTESS FOR IRELAND " PLUNKET STREET," 

DUBLIN CURIOUS ACCUSATIONS WILLIAM SMYTH, ESQ. 

CONVERSION OF HIS WIFE HIS OWN CONVERSION HIS MU- 
NIFICENCE WESLEY AT BETHESDA CHAPEL FLETCHER 

LADY MOIRA OFFENDED ARISTOCRACY RICHARD DE COUR- 

CY 235 

CHAPTER XL 
PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 

WORK FOR THE WILLING WHITEFIELD'S WILL — "THE ORPHAN 

HOUSE" — MISSIONARIES FOR AMERICA — ARRIVAL IN GEORGIA 

THE countess's ZEAL — ORPHAN HOUSE BURNED — DIS- 

OOUEAGEMENTS — A NEW PROJECT FAILURE 249 



12 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XII. 

CONTROVERSY. 

EARLY FKIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTESS AND WESLEY — SEPA- 
RATION — Wesley's " minutes " — explanation — ^fletcher's 

DEFENSE HIS OPPONENTS PROSCRIPTION DYING FEELINGS 

— BENSON — RELENTINGS PAGE 263 

CHAPTER Xni. 
CHANGES. 

THE PANTHEON — AN UNREASONABLE CLERGYMAN — SPAFIELDS 

CHAPEL LEGAL DECISION SECESSION FEELINGS AT THE 

EVENT widow's SON — CHAPEL SPARED BY A MOB — ANOTHER 

THEATER 275 

CHAPTER XIV. 

BETTER ACQUAINTED. 

A GLANCE AT THE PAST — PRIVATE WALKS — POOR DEBTOR 

— HEARING PREACHING — CONVERSATION PRIVATE REPROOF IN 

HER FAMILY AN OFFENDING ARCHBISHOP PRIVATE REPROOF 

OF <'HIS grace" — INTERVIEW WITH THE KING AND QUEEN 
ERRING MINISTERS REPROVED PLAIN APPAREL NO JEW- 
ELRY — RELIEF TO DODDRIDGE AND BERRIDGE AMOUNT SHE 

GAVE AWAY — A PROVIDENTIAL SUPPLY 290 

CHAPTER XV. 

PARTING. 

A PROPOSED PLAN — THE COUNTESS'S WILL — TRADESMAN 

PIOUS FRAME LAST CRISIS EMPLOYMENT OF HER LAST 

MOMENTS — THE CHURCH AT ASHBY MURAL MONUMENT — 

REUNION 311 



|Uu^tra;ti0US. 



PAas 

PORTRAIT OF LADY HUNTINGDON 2 

WHITEFIELD PREACHING 45 

MONUMENT TO JOHN WESLEY 61 

ABNEY PARK 125 

LADY HUNTINGDON'S VISIT TO GEORGE m 298 



LADY HUNTINGDON 

POETEAYED. 

CHAPTEE I. 

LIFE WELL BEGUN". 

The family of Lady Selina Shirley was one 
of the noblest of England. The records of her 
ancestors contained some of the honored names 
of its history. Their princely mansions had de- 
scended through many generations, and wealth 
and noble blood had entailed their accustomed 
attendants of self-complacency and forgetfulness 
of God. Yet there had been individuals in her 
family of true piety. Among its most cherished 
names, and belonging, on the father's side, to 
one of its purest characters, we notice that 
of Washington^ a name associated with many 
virtues. 



16 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

The father of Lady Selina was Washington 
Shirley, titled Earl of Ferrers. She was the 
second of three daughters, and was bom ^t 
Chartley, August 24th, 1707. Her childhood 
was characterized by a quiet thoughtfulness. 
An incident which occurred in her ninth year, 
made a deep impression upon her mind. 

In one of her walks she met the funeral pro- 
cession of a child about her own age. From 
curiosity she followed it to the grave. Here 
the sight of the corpse deeply affected her, and 
awakened such thoughts of the eternal world, 
that, standing on the brink of the open grave, 
she prayed that God would fit her for heaven. 
She turned away from the solemn place with 
many tears. She often returned to it to renew 
her serious impressions, and, to her latest years, 
referred with interest to this occasion of her 
first religious awakening. 

Though mingling in fashionable society, and 
surrounded by those who plunged recklessly 
into worldly amusements, as the end for which 
they lived, her interest was in more serious 



LIFE WELL BEGUN. 17 

things. She possessed naturally a strong mind, 
and a love for knowledge, which she cultivated 
to the full extent of the means afforded by the 
times in which she lived. While other young- 
ladies of her age were attracting attention by 
the expensive decorations of their persons. 
Lady Selina, attired with a plainness that ever 
suited her taste, won the good opinions of the 
court circles in which she moved, by her rich 
stores of knowledge and refined cultivation. 
She could not claim the attractions of marked 
personal beauty, though she was favored with 
the advantages of great native dignity. Her 
personal presence elicited interest and com- 
manded respect, even in early womanhood. 
She was not easily passed by or forgotten. 
While the more vain of her sex sought atten- 
tion, observation and remark were naturally 
drawn toward her. Without seeking it, and 
almost without knowing it, she became the cen- 
ter of attraction and influence. 

It was natural that a woman of such a cast 
of mind should be sought in marriage, not by a 



18 LADY HUNTING-DON POKTRAYED. 

fashionable and pleasure-seeking man, but by 
one who, at least, had high religious sentiments 
and refined mental culture. 

Such was young Lord Huntingdon, who 
sought and obtained her hand in marriage. He 
belonged to a family no less noble than her 
own; the connection seemed in every respect 
suitable, and proved a happy one. Lord Hunt- 
ingdon's freedom from the vices of his position 
and of his times, his spotless integrity, and his 
uniform respect for religion and religious peo- 
ple, caused him to appear to those about him 
among whom there was but little knowledge of 
true religion, as a pious man. But he does not 
appear ever to have become the subject of 
renewing grace. He once made the following 
remark in a conversation with Wesley : " The 
morality of the Bible I admire, but the doctrine 
of the atonement I cannot comprehend." Thus, 
leaning upon his philosophy rather than faith, 
upon morality rather than love to God, he was 
never able to sympathize with the holiness of 
heart which became the constant aim and ulti- 



LIFE WELL BEGUN. 19 

mate experience of the countess, his wife. Yet, 
in the true spii-it of the gentleman and kind 
husband, he never interfered with her religious 
convictions. The plans her sense of duty dic- 
tated, she was permitted to carry out without 
embarrassment from him. At one time, he was 
requested, by high authority, to lay restraint 
upon what was termed his wife's fanaticism. 
But he repelled the suggestion with indignant 
feelings. 

The family name of Lord Huntingdon was 
Hastings. His ancestral seat was Donnington 
Park, in Leicestershire. The Park at Donning- 
ton is celebrated for its fine old majestic oaks, 
and other forest trees. The grounds are altern- 
ately thrown into bold swells, and sunk into 
sweeping valleys, thus presenting for a great 
distance, scenes of picturesque beauty and 
interest. 

ISTear the northern extremity of the grounds 
is a precipice called Donnington Cliff, a spot 
much admired for its wild romantic scenery, for 
its bold projecting crags, hanging woods, and 



20 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

the clear, quiet waters of tlie Eiver Trent at its 
base. 

The old residence of the Huntingdons Has 
long since been pulled down, but the present 
mansion in Donnington Park is regarded as 
one of the most architecturally beautiful and 
well-arranged mansions in England, worthy of 
the wealth ai^ position of the family. 

Thus situated by her marriage relation, Lady 
Huntingdon continued her established habit of ^ 
attention to the outward performances of relig- 
ious duties. She visited the poor of her neigh- 
borhood, and bestowed upon them freely such 
things as their poverty required. She was par- 
ticularly attentive to the sick, and was constant- 
ly mindful of the spiritual as well as temporal 
wants of all her dependents. She fasted regu- 
larly, laid upon herself frequent self-denials, and 
was habitually faithful to the duty of private 
prayer. Yet in all this she had no clear idea 
of the faith which brings salvation. Her mind 
was without religious comfort. She was, as 
were the Wesleys for many years, seeking to 



LIFE WELL BEGUN. 21 

be saved, if not by works only, hy wor'ks and 
faith. 

But God never leaves the earnest inquirer 
after salvation uninstructed in the more excel- 
lent way. His providential hand is near to 
guide and uphold. While Lady Huntingdon 
was thus sincerely but erroneously seeking to be 
justified before God, the "Wesleys, Whitefield, 
and a few co-laborers were beginning to excite, 
attention, having just escaped from a long legal 
bondage into the glorious liberty which is by 
faith in Christ. Their preaching was with 
power, and to many they seemed beside them- 
selves. But to multitudes their word became 
as life to the dead. Mr. Ingham, the friend and 
companion of "Wesley in his mission to Georgia, 
having become a partaker with him of forgive- 
ness of sins by faith, preached with great suc- 
cess in Yorkshire County, and visited the neigh- 
borhood of the residence of the sisters of Lord 
Huntingdon, the Ladies Hastings. They attend- 
ed his preaching through curiosity, and were 
awakened by the Spirit of God. Lady Mar- 



22 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

garet was the first who received converting 
grace. In a conversation, soon after, with 
Lady Huntingdon, she remarked, with a glow 
of holy emotion : " Since I have known and be- 
lieved in the Lord Jesus Christ, for life and 
salvation, I have been as happy as an angel." 

Her sister saw at once that her own heart 
knew no such feelings. She became more dis- 
satisfied with herself, and convicted of her sin- 
fulness. But she only turned for help to greater 
austerities, and more severe self-imposed duties. 
At this critical point she was taken sick. 
Death approached, and she was alarmed. She 
could find no comfort in all she had done. She 
was afraid to die, for the forgiving smiles of her 
Saviour did not rest upon her. In this her time 
of need the words of Lady Margaret came to 
her mind with new weight. " Since I Relieved 
in the Lord Jesus CJiristr was a sentence which 
flashed light upon her mind. She began, amid 
pain and weakness, to cry to Jesus to save 
her, and to save her now. In a moment the 
cloud parted, and Jesus, with joy and peace, 



LIFE WELL BEGUN. 23 

appeared. While she was wondering at the 
mighty change, her disease had disappeared, so 
that almost at the same moment she was made 
whole both in body and soul. 

The new life into which Lady Huntingdon 
was thus introduced, became apparent to all. 
She did not relax, but increased her labors of 
love. But now she performed them as privi- 
leges to be enjoyed, and not, as heretofore, as 
painful duties imposed upon her by the stern 
requirements of religion. She became even 
more free in bestowing her wealth upon the 
needy, and more diligent in the delightful 
work of public and private worship. We 
shall see that her trials were many, and that 
at times she passed through deep waters of 
affliction, but we cannot perceive, by any ex- 
pression that dropped from her lips, that she 
ever doubted that at this time, instantly, and in 
the way we have stated, she passed from death 
to life, from darkness to light. So clearly was 
the great Methodist revival characterized, from 
its beginning, hy a Icnowledge of sins forgiven. 



24 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 



CHAPTEE II. 

STRIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 

The change in Lady Huntingdon's character 
was not only a matter of surprise, but of annoy- 
ance, in tl^ court circles in which she moved. 
Her opposers not being able to induce her hus- 
band to restrain by personal authority the ex- 
ercise of her religious convictions, nevertheless 
secured, through him, the special services of 
Bishop Benson, to convince her that she had 
become pious overmuch. But the truth from 
her lips was too mighty for an opposing bishop. 
She supported her sentiments, and defended her 
experience from the authority of the Church of 
England, and the higher authority of the Word 
of God. She pressed with convincing earnest- 
ness upon the prelate the solemn responsibility 
of his high station in the Church. He came 
to reprove, but he found himself fairly and 



STKIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 25 

seriously reproved; and though he had come 
to instruct, yet he stood corrected on the most 
vital question of religion — the work of grace 
upon the heart. Disturbed in feeling, he 
hastily rose to depart, remarking that George 
Whitefield was the author of the errors of 
her ladyship, and he regretted that he had 
ordained him. "My lord," replied the count- 
ess, " mark my words : when you are on 
your dying bed, that will be one of the few 
ordinations you will reflect upon with com- 
placence." 

This prediction was strikingly verified. When 
the bishop was on his dying bed, he sent White- 
field ten guineas as a token of respect, and 
requested an interest in his prayers. He had 
then happily learned the way of salvation more 
perfectly. 

The evangelical character of Lady Hunting- 
don's religious experience was apparent, not 
only as it stood thus contrasted with the merely 
moral sentiments of the professedly pious, but 
in its difiference from her own former feelings, 



26 LADY HUNTINGDON FOKTKAyED. 

and its radical opposition to the spirit of most 
of her associates. An incident whicli occurred 
not long before her conversion, will show info 
what improprieties she could then be led, and 
we shall see how strong she became by grace 
against such examples. 

On one occasion, spirited debates were going 
on in the House of Peers. It was a time of 
great political excitement, and the females of 
the nobility participated in it. In this state of 
things the peers closed the doors against all but 
members of Parliament. The lady politicians 
resented this. Ten of them, (including Lady 
Huntingdon,) bearing the highest titles of the 
female nobility, appeared at the door of the 
House of Lords, at the early hour of nine 
o'clock in the morning, demanding admittance. 
They were politely told that the chancellor had 
forbidden it. They sneered at the ill-breed- 
ing of a " mere lawyer," and renewed their de- 
mand to be permitted to go up stairs privately. 
The officer, seeing their undue persistence, 
peremptorily refused. Their leader replied that 



STRIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 27 

they would enter in spite of the chancellor and 
the whole House. Suiting their actions to their 
words, they remained at the door, without sus- 
tenance, until five o'clock in the afternoon, 
reporting, at short intervals, their presence to 
those within by noisy kicks and raps upon the 
door. The peers having been early apprised of 
the character of the siege set up against them, 
gave orders that the door should not be opened 
until the siege was raised. As the day drew to 
a close the noise was shrewdly suppressed. The 
lords, supposing the foe had retired, opened 
the doors, when in rushed the invaders, and 
took a favorable position for hearing and seeing 
the debaters. Here they remained until the 
House adjourned, about eleven o'clock at night, 
applauding or showing their dislike, as suited 
their humor. 

How differently does Lady Huntingdon ap- 
pear in the following narrative of a most inter- 
esting occurrence. It was her custom, after her 
conversion, to drop into the humble cottages 
of the peasantry, during her rambles through 



28 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

her lordly domains, and speak to them concern- 
ing the salvation of their souls. The following 
sanctified effects of one of these visits is given 
in her own words, in a letter to Mr. Wesley. 

... "I walked a little way by the water 
side, where are some houses for the poor, in 
number about six, two of which are ale-houses, 
and appear to be the harbor for the devils 
themselves ; I called in at one of these houses 
to see a poor woman that I used to think meant 
well, in order to stir her up a little. After talk- 
ing with her, she told me she had been asking 
one of her neighbors if she had any hope of 
knowing before she died whether she would be 
happy; and they both wished to know my 
opinion. I answered, that as they believed, so 
it would be done unto them; and added that I 
would come down and read to them. ... I 
took a friend with me, and found her appar- 
ently in great bodily suffering, but on feeling 
her pulse I could not find it so much as ruffled ; 
but her sweats were the most violent I had ever 
seen. Her agony of mind was so great she 



STKIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 29 

could not contain, but cried out : ' This is noth- 
ing. I may possibly be dying, and what will 
come of my soul? O, pray for me! O, mercy! 
mercy !' 

" Her trouble and misery were such as brought 
tears from the eyes of all of us. I beheld 
her with my heart filled with love and pity. 
I said: 'l^ow, where are all your good works? 
What has become of all your honest labor for 
sixty years? What! are you a perishing sinner 
at last?' 

" She answered : ' It will not do ; I am too 
bad to be saved.' 

" Her tears, and the expressions of her suffer- 
ings, were more than can be described. I said : 
'Well, now that you are quite lost, you will 
find Him who came to seek and to save just 
such as you are. JSTow, my life upon it, he will 
soon come.' 

"'What,' she cried, 'to such a sinner as I 
am?' 

" 'Yes,' I replied. 'It was for such only that 
he died.' 



30 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTKAYED. 

" 'I shall die,' she exclaimed. 

"'Peace will be your portion first,' I insisted, 
but she refused to be comforted. 

" The next day I found her the same. We 
received the Sacrament together, and I found 
the presence of the Lord there. As soon as it 
was over, I said : ' O, what a living Saviour have 
you !' The tears were still flowing down her 
face with all the marks of misery, as before; 
the sight was enough to affect a heart of stone. 
About six at night word came to me that 
she was in the agonies of death, and desired 
to take leave of her children. This was her 
last plunge into the deep. Her soul and body 
were as if in hell. Four men were not suf- 
ficient to hold her in bed, so great was Satan's 
power over her. After these hours of suffering, 
her soul was brought into the liberty of God's 
people. The poor people were surprised to 
find her on a sudden lie so still. She con- 
tinued twelve hours, as it were, feeding on the 
fatted calf. She told them that she had not 
slept, but had been all night partaking of the 



STKIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 31 

joys of heaven. When I came at noon to see 
her, she exclaimed : ' O, my lady, my dear 
lady, what great things the Lord hath done for 
me ! I have neither doubt nor fear. He hath 
given me that peace that the world can neither 
give nor take away.' Her looks were altered. 
She lay with such sweetness and complacency 
in her countenance, that I delighted to behold 
her. 

" * You have saved my soul,' she said ; ' I 
have such tastes of the Divine love as are not 
to be expressed. O, what a thing it is to have 
the heart all flaming with love to the Lord 
Jesus!' 

"From that hour she has felt no pain, either of 
body or mind. She exhorts all who come near 
her to turn to the Lord." 

Lady Huntingdon appends to this narrative 
the following significant declaration : " Much 
of my time is taken up in bringing souls to seek 
after the Lord. I have some difficulty in keep- 
ing them from clinging to me ; such wondrous 
love they bear me. This I know must be for 



32 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

the Lord's sake, for in me dwelleth no good 
thing." The happy death, soon after, of the 
woman whose conversion is above described, 
is given in another letter to Mr. Wesley. 

So soon does the scene change from the arro- 
gance of aristocratic pride to the humility of 
the humble poor, when grace enters the heart. 
How strikingly contrasted is the spirit of the in- 
cident in the House of Peers, with that of the 
humble laborer in the home of the unknown 
and neglected. 

The Lord greatly blessed the efforts of the 
countess. She once spoke to a workman who 
was repairing a garden wall, and pressed him to 
take some thought concerning eternity and the 
state of his soul. Some years after, she was 
speaking to another on the same subject, and 
said to him: "Thomas, I fear you never pray 
nor look to Christ for salvation." 

"Your ladyship is mistaken," replied the 
man. " I heard what passed between you and 
James some time since, and the word designed 
for him took effect on me." 



STRIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 33 

" How did you hear it ?" 

" I heard it," replied the man, " on the other 
side of the garden, through a hole in the wall, 
and I never shall forget the impression I re- 
ceived." 

Lady Huntingdon's efforts for the salvation 
of souls, which she began to put forth immedi- 
ately on her conversion, were not confined to 
the poor. She invited her fashionable ac- 
quaintance to hear the preaching of the Wes- 
leys and "Whitefield. She made the occasion 
of their sickness, or an extraordinary occur- 
rence in their life, the means of religious in- 
struction. Her talents, learning, and consistent 
piety won their respect. Her faithful reproofs 
and rigid self-denial provoked their sneers, 
though they could not despise her. "We shall 
see that her earnest labors were blessed with 
some fruit from this class also. 

The following anecdotes and letters will fur- 
ther show the striking contrast between the 
proud devotee of worldly honors and fashions, 
and the humble Christian. Tliey will also 



34 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTKAYED. 

exhibit some of tlie difficulties in the way 
of holiness, which meet the rich and hon- 
ored, illustrating the solemn declaration of 
the Saviour; "How hardly shall they that 
have riches enter into the kingdom of God." 

Among the countess's personal friends was 
the Duchess of Marlborough, wife of the great 
Duke of Marlborough, so renowned in English 
history. A writer who had ample means of 
knowing her character, thus describes it : 

" Her conversation and deportment were 
alike irresistible, from a just and delightful 
mixture of softness and sprightliness. A little 
petulance and caprice of temper ; a little heed- 
lessness of manner; a good deal of her sex's 
pride, and yet more of its vanity; a quickness 
of imagination which sometimes hurried her 
to the verge of imprudence, and a natural 
acuteness and readiness of wit which as often 
extricated her, were the characteristics of this 
woman's masculine mind and intriguing spirit, 
which, by her influence in the cabinet, may be 
said to have swayed the destinies of Europe 



STKIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 35 

with greater effect than did her husband by 
his talents in the field." 

Lady Huntingdon, having conversed with 
this distinguished woman on the subject of 
personal religion, and led her to the preach- 
ing of the leading Methodists, had thus oc- 
casioned the following letters : 

" My dear Lady Huntingdon is so very good 
to me, and I do really feel so very sensibly all 
your kindness and attention, that I must accept 
your very obliging invitation to accompany you 
to hear Mr. Whitefield, though I am still suffer- 
ing from the effects of a severe cold. Your con- 
cern for my improvement in religious knowledge 
is very obliging, and I hope I shall be the bet- 
ter for all your excellent advice. God knows 
we all need mending, and none more than 
myself. I have lived to see great changes 
in the world, have acted a conspicuous part 
myself, and now hope, in my old days, to 
obtain mercy from God, as I never expect 
any at the hands of my fellow-creatures. 
The Duchess of Ancaster, Lady Townsend, 
3 



86 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

and Lady Cobham were exceedingly pleased 
with many observations in Mr. "Whitefield's 
sermon at St. Sepulcher's Clmrch, which has 
made me lament ever since I did not hear it, 
as it might have been the means of doing me 
some good — for good, alas ! / do want. But 
where, among corrupt sons and the daughters 
of Adam, am I to find it? Your ladyship must 
direct me. You are all goodness and kindness, 
and I often wish I had a portion of it. "Women 
of wit, beauty, and quality cannot hear too 
many humiliating truths, they shock our pride. 
But we must die. "Ws must converse with 

earth and worms 

" Many thanks to Lady Fanny for her good 
wishes. Any letter from her and my dear, 
good Lady Huntingdon, are always welcome, 
and always, in every particular, to my satis- 
faction. / ham no comfort in my own family, 
therefore must seek for that pleasure and grat- 
ification that others can impart. I hope you 
will shortly come and see me, and give me 
more of your company than I have had lat- 



STEIKINa CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 37 

terly. In truth, I always feel more happy and 
more contented after an hour's conversation 
with you, than I do after a whole week's 
round of amusement. WTien alone, my reflec- 
tions and recollections almost hill ms, and I am 
forced to fly to the society of those I detest and 
abhor. E"ow, there is Lady Frances Sander- 
son's great rout to-morrow night ; all the world 
will be there; I must go. I do hate that 
woman as much as I do hate a physician. 
But I must go, if for no other purpose than to 
mortify and spite her. This is very wicked, I 
know, but I confess all my little peccadilloes to 
you, for I know your goodness will lead you to 
be mild and forgiving, and perhaps my wicked 
heart may gain some good from you in the 
end." 

With this great but wicked woman. Lady 
Huntingdon never ceased to labor, to bring 
her proud heart to Christ. The duchess's fiery 
temper, yielding to no other, quailed before the 
countess's quiet goodness. She quarreled with 
every member of her own family, and with 



38 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

most of her acquaintances. Being crossed 
once by her husband, she cut off her own 
beautiful hair, because she knew it was the 
object of his special delight. She used, with 
her characteristic freedom, to tell the incident 
after his death, and allude, with deep emotion, 
to the fact that she found her ringlets, laid 
away by his own hand, among his choicest 
treasures. 

As might be expected, she was much afraid 
to die. When very sick, a few years before 
her death, she heard the physician express his 
alarm for her, and order a blister. Rais- 
ing herself suddenly, she exclaimed with 
energy, ''I will not be blistered, and I 
won't die." 

The Duchess of Buckingham was another 
subject of Lady Huntingdon's labors. This 
lady's pride exceeded, if possible, that of the 
Duchess of Marlborough. She had been per- 
suaded to attend the preaching of the leaders 
of Methodism. Her heart greatly resented the 
doctrines they taught. She expressed her 



STEIKING CONTRASTS OF CHARACTER. 39 

resentment of them in the following note, 
addressed to Lady Huntingdon : 

" I thank your ladyship for the information 
concerning the Methodist preachers. Their 
doctrines are most repulsive, and strongly 
tinctured with impertinence and disrespect 
toward their superiors, in perpetually en- 
deavoring to level all ranks, and do away 
with all distinctions. It is monstrous to be 
told you have a heart as sinful as the com- 
mon wretches that crawl on the earth. This 
is highly offensive and insulting; and I can- 
not but wonder that your ladyship should 
relish any sentiments so much at variance 
with high rank and good breeding. 

"Your ladyship does me infinite honor in your 
obliging inquiries after my health. I shall be 
most happy to accept your kind offer of accom- 
panying me to hear your favorite preacher, 
and shall wait your arrival. The Duchess of 
Queensbury insists on my patronizing her on 
this occasion ; consequently she will be an 
addition to our party," 



40 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

This woman, poor indeed in her wealth of 
nobility, carried her pride into the yery realms 
of death. At the death of her only son, after 
dressing in a vain show, with her own hand, his 
poor dust, she sent to the Duchess of Marl- 
borough, to borrow, for the funeral pomp, the 
car on which the great Marlborough was borne 
to the grave. The duchess refused the request 
with scorn, saying that no other corpse should 
profane the car on which her Lord Marlborough 
had lain. 

The haughty Buckingham replied, that she 
had engaged the undertaker to make a finer 
car for twenty pounds. 

She also arranged the parade and ceremony 
for her own burial, and dressed her own wax 
figure, to be placed in Westminster Abbey. 
When death came to humble her pride, by 
bringing her to the dust, on a level with the 
meanest and most obscure. Lady Huntingdon 
sought renewedly an opportunity to convey 
to her the consolations of religion. But she 
repelled her solicitations. 



STKIKING CONTEASTS OF CHAEACTER. 41 

Sucli were some of the characters whom 
Ladj Huntingdon sought to turn to Christ, and 
against whose wide-spread influence she main- 
tained a Christian walk. 

We shall see that her influence prevailed 
over a few of the nobility. They became, by 
her instrumentality, the friends of Christ, and 
her efficient co-laborers. 



42 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 



CHAPTEE m. 

EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 

Thus far we have seen Lady Huntingdon, as 
a serious but unrenewed youth, unsuccessfully 
attempting to stem the current of the irreligious 
influences of a position of wealth and honor, in 
her own feeble strength. In this state we have 
seen her at one time weeping at the thoughts of 
death and the judgment, fasting, praying, and 
giving alms to the poor; but soon after we 
were surprised to behold her with her proud 
associates exhibiting their haughty spirit in the 
council-chamber of the nation. 

We have also marked the change which alone 
can enable the feet to walk securely and peace- 
fully in the narrow path. We have seen her 
penitence, her faith in Christ, and the first 
fruits of a new life. "We shall now present to 
the reader some of the influences by which her 



EAKLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 43 

early Christian experience was sustained and 
expanded. We shall introduce some of the dis- 
tinguished men who were blessed as important 
instruments of good to her at this period. 

Lady Huntingdon's personal acquaintance 
with John and Charles Wesley commenced 
soon after her recovery from the sickness dur- 
ing which God spoke peace to her soul. She 
then sent for them, hearing they were preach- 
ing in the vicinity, and declared what great 
things God had done for her. 

They frequently, from that time, preached at 
Donnington Park, and maintained the most 
cordial Christian intimacy, by frequent inter- 
views and occasional exchange of letters. The 
acquaintance was evidently highly esteemed by 
each. There is no evidence that at this time 
their doctrinal views differed. She looked up 
to them as her teachers in religious experience, 
and they referred to her enlightened judgment 
perplexing questions of practical duty. Hav- 
ing just emerged from a long night of erroneous 
seeking after salvation, their minds rejoiced 



44 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

exceedingly in the liberty of the people of God. 
But the work which God's providence was im- 
posing upon them on every side, astonished 
even themselves. They therefore needed, and 
sought by every Christian means, wisdom to 
direct. 

As the early history of the Wesleys is so 
much connected with that of Lady Hunting- 
don, it will be necessary to refer to it briefly. 
At the time of the countess's conversion, the 
Wesleys and Whitefield were meeting with the 
Moravians at Fetter Lane, London. With that 
society she immediately became connected, and 
regularly attended its meetings. Whitefield was 
preaching in the city churches, and exciting 
the attention of thousands. His word was with 
such power that the worldly and formal were 
offended at him, and he was forbidden the use 
of the churches. Then commenced that won- 
derful movement in the reformation of his 
times, the practice of field preaching. The 
Wesleys followed Whitefield in this means of 
preaching Christ to the poor. The new field, so 




WHITEFIELD PREACHING. 



EAKLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 47 

white for the harvest, made occasion for more 
laborers. Whitefield had suggested, and com- 
menced providing, a school for the children 
of the poor of Kingswood and Bristol. "Wesley 
had completed the provision, by great exertions 
and greater personal sacrifices, established the 
school, and placed Mr. John Cennick over it as 
tutor. 

While these pioneers were thus extending 
their influence, the Society at Fetter Lane was 
unhappily distracted by those who had crept in 
unawares, and, as professed teachers of higher 
Christian attainments, had destroyed the faith 
of some. They taught that holiness was re- 
ceived by refraining from the use of all means. 
Hence they disparaged all the ordinances. 
They inveighed against preaching and prayer 
especially. Their constant cry was, " Be stillP 
They took away a part of God's word which said, 
" Work out your salvation," and said only, " It 
is God that worketh in you." After many 
efforts to correct these errors, the Wesleys, 
Whitefield, Lady Huntingdon, and eighteen or 



48 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

nineteen others, withdrew from the society at 
Fetter Lane. Less than a year previous to this 
event, John Wesley had purchased and opened 
for religious meetings, the Foundry^ an un- 
couth building at Moorfields, not far from Fetter 
Lane. Here he and his co-laborers preached 
the gospel with great success, much people 
being added unto the Lord. Lady Huntingdon 
was often present, receiving instruction, and 
privately laboring with the young converts. 

The frequent absence of Mr. Wesley from 
the society at the Foundry, made it necessary to 
leave some pious, judicious member in charge 
of its aifairs. Thomas Maxfield was selected 
for this purpose. He was a man of superior 
natural abilities, and deep piety. His prayers 
in the social meetings and his exhortations 
pleased and profited the society. Lady Hunt- 
ingdon, witnessing these labors, encouraged 
him to attempt an exposition of portions of 
the Scriptures. He did so with great freedom 
and eloquence. Surprised at his success, she 
wrote to Wesley the following letter: 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 49 

"I never mentioned to you that I have seen 
Maxfield. He is one of the greatest instances 
of God's peculiar favor that I know. He is 
raised from the stones to sit among the princes 
of his people. He is my astonishment ! How 
is God's power shown in weakness ! You can 
have no idea what an attachment I have to 
him. He is highly favored of the Lord. The 
first time I made him expound, expecting but 
little from him, I sat over against him. I 
thought, what a power of God must be with 
him to make m& give attention to him. But 
before he had gone over one fifth part, any one, 
to have seen me, would have thought I had 
been made of wood or stone ; so quite immov- 
able I both felt and looked. His power in 
prayer is extraordinary. To deal plainly, I 
could either talk or write for an hour about 
him." 

Maxfield, being thus placed before the peo- 
ple as a teacher, and multitudes flocking to 
hear his expositions, soon began to preach in 
a more formal manner. His word was owned 



60 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

of God. Genuine conversions, the seals of a 
true gospel minister, were given him. Wes- 
ley's Church prejudices were shocked when he 
heard that a layma/a had thus assumed to be a 
preacher. He hastened from Bristol to London 
to stop the startling innovation. He was met 
at the Foundry by his revered mother, who 
remarked that he had better hear Maxfield 
before he laid his prohibitory authority upon 
him; for she had heard him, and before his 
strains of evangelical truth her long-cherished 
prejudices had given way. 

John wisely followed his mother's advice; 
heard, and was convinced that God had chosen 
the weak things of this world to confound the 
mighty ; and seeing that he had appointed this 
uneducated, unordained man to call sinners, by 
preaching, to repentance, he dared not forbid 
him. 

After Maxfield had thus labored, as "Wesley's 
*' helper," for several years, he was ordained by 
his recommendation. The bishop about to lay 
his hand upon him remarked: ''Sir, I ordain 



EAKLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 51 

you to assist that good man, John "Wesley, that 
he may not work himself to death." 

Mr. Maxfield, subsequently adopting the 
Calvinistic doctrine, separated from Wesley's 
connection. He ministered for some time in a 
large chapel in Princes-street, London, near 
Moorfields. He died suddenly, in the midst of 
his years and usefulness, of a paralytic stroke. 

A still more extraordinary character was 
at this time raised up, as the countess ex- 
presses it, " from among the stones to sit with 
princes." We refer to John ISTelson. As he 
was emphatically one of our lady's early 
Methodist friends, and was largely indebted 
to her kindness, we must notice, in a general 
manner, his wonderful career. 

He was a native of Birstal, near Leeds. 
Being in London, at work on the Somerset 
House, as a mechanic, he heard Wesley 
preach at Moorfields. He says: "As soon as 
he got upon the stand, he stroked back his 
hair, and turned his face toward where I stood, 
and, I thought, fixed his eyes on me. His 



62 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

countenance struck such an awful dread upon 
me, before I heard him speak, that it made my 
heart beat like the pendulum of a clock. 
When he did speak I thought his whole dis- 
course was aimed at me." 

After his conversion, which followed im- 
mediately, he left his business, under a sense 
of duty to the spiritual good of his neighbors 
at home, and returned to Birstal. The simple 
rehearsal to them of his inward change, 
excited great attention. Some mocked and 
opposed, but others became, first interested, 
then awakened and converted. Multitudes 
gathered about him, and begged to know more 
about these strange things. John became 
immediately the center of a religious excite- 
ment which spread for many miles around. 
He was astonished and perplexed at his 
position. He sent for Mr. Wesley to strength- 
en and direct him. When Mr. Wesley came, 
and saw how God was working, he readily, 
as in Maxfield's case, gave him his countenance 
to preach and form societies. 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 53 

Mr. Ingham, whose immediate field of labor 
included the vicinity of Birstal, visited him, and, 
in the presence of several religious friends, 
closely questioned him concerning his religious 
experience and knowledge of religious things. 
Being well satisfied with his answers, he said 
to ISTelson, in the presence of the company : 
"John, God hath given you great honor, in 
that he hath made use of you to call sinners 
to repentance; and I desire you to exhort in 
all my societies as often as you can." 

About this time Lady Huntingdon, having 
heard of Nelson's wonderful experience, visited 
his neighborhood, to see and hear him. After 
Mr. Ingham had preached to a congregation 
of many thousands, Kelson spoke for a half 
hour. When he had closed the countess seized 
him by the hand, and with much emotion 
exclaimed: "John, God hath called you to put 
your hand to the plow. Great will be your 
punishment if you dare to look back. He that 
called you is mighty to save. Fear not ; press 
forward ; he will hless your testimony. ^^ 
4 



54 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Thus encouraged, John IS'elson commenced 
preaching, to the astonishment of all who heard 
him, and the salvation of many. "We must not 
follow his history, but will only add, that hav- 
ing been pressed for a soldier, in consequence 
of his faithful preaching, and having suffered 
much, he was relieved by Lady Huntingdon's 
influence. She applied to many in authority 
in his behalf, and finally to the Earl of Sunder- 
land, then famous as a successful general, and 
afterward titled Duke of Marlborough. The 
earl ordered llTelson to be set at liberty, and 
sent him the glad tidings through Charles 
Wesley. 

Having thus committed herself in favor of 
lay preaching, her ladyship soon had an op- 
portunity to extend her approbation to one 
much nearer home. 

There was among the servants of Lord Hunt- 
ingdon a man named Daniel Taylor. He was 
possessed of considerable natural ability and 
soundness of judgment, and had received a 
tolerable education. He was among the first 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 55 

subjects of God's converting grace, under Meth- 
odist preaching. His deep interest in the sal- 
vation of his fellow-servants, led the countess to 
encourage him to extend his labors. He began, 
in the hamlets of the poor, in the vicinity of 
Donnington Park, to preach Christ. As in the 
other cases of lay preaching, his labors pro- 
duced a wonderful effect. His patroness, who 
without religion would have regarded the in- 
struction of a servant with contempt, sat under 
his ministrations with amazement and delight. 
In his word was the " tongue of fire," turning 
men to God. 

From the cottages of Donnington Park, 
Taylor extended his itinerating to the villages 
and towns to a considerable distance. Thou- 
sands flocked to hear the word of life. 

At Patby, a village near Leicester, there was 
a man named Samuel Deacon, mowing in his 
field. Hearing that Taylor, whose fame had 
reached his ears, was to preach that day in the 
streets of Ratby, he laid down his scythe 
and went to hear him. The word spoken 



66 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

proved the power of God unto his salvation, 
and he, too, soon began to preach. A Church 
was gathered as the fruit of Mr. Deacon's la- 
bors at Barton Fabis, in Leicestershire, over 
which he presided as pastor fifty-two years. 
A Connection of Christian professors was form- 
ed of such as came under his influence, which 
embraced, in subsequent years, one hundred 
and twenty Churches and 11,000 members. 

Taylor continued to push his labors into new 
and wider fields, co-operating with Ingham and 
Wesley, and finally became a member of the 
Connection of the latter. 

"While God was thus raising up humble 
friends and co-laborers, the Wesleys, from dif- 
ference of doctrinal views, which began soon to 
be apparent, were less intimate with Lady 
Huntingdon. Yet it was long before they 
ceased to labor together in Christian fellow- 
ship. Charles "Wesley had, soon after the or- 
ganization of the society at the Foundry, lean- 
ed, for a short time only, to the quietism of the 
Moravians, though he had so firmly opposed 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 57 

that error at Fetter Lane. Lady Huntingdon's 
attachment to him was very great, and she 
■used the freedom of an intimate friend, and 
was blessed as an important instrument in se- 
curing his frank and full renunciation of it. 

The following letters will not only show the 
value of her labors in opposing the Moravian 
error of " stillness^^^ but show the high stand- 
ard of personal piety she had proposed to her- 
self, and the confidence existing between her 
and John Wesley, to whom they are addressed. 
They are dated about a year after the com- 
mencement of the meeting at the Foundry, 
namely, near the beginning of the year 1742. 

" "Wisdom is justified of her children. Your 
answer to the former part of mine has quite 
silenced me on that subject. But I believe 
your brother's journal will clear up my mean- 
ing to you, for I should labor very much to 
have as few snares in his way as possible. 
Since you left us the still ones are not without 
their attacks. I fear much more for him than 
for myself, as the conquest of the one would be 



58 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

nothing to that of the other. They have, bj 
one of their agents, reviled me very much, but 
I have taken no sort of notice, as if I had 
never heard it. I comfort myself very much 
that you will approve a step your brother and 
I have taken with respect to them ; no less 
than his declaring open war with them. He 
seemed under some difficulty about it at first, 
till he had free liberty given him to use my 
name as the instrument in God's hand that had 
delivered him from them. 1 rejoiced much at 
it, hoping that it might be a means of working 
my deliverance from them. I have desired him 
to inclose to them yours on Christian Perfection. 
The doctrine herein contained I hope to live 
and die by ; it is absolutely the most complete 
thing I know. God has helped your infirmi- 
ties. His Spirit was with you of a truth." . . . 
The reader will not fail to be interested in 
the countess's unqualified approval of Mr. 
Wesley's sentiments on Christian Perfection, 
expressed in the above letter. The publication 
referred to was undoubtedly his sermon ou 



EAELY METHODIST CO-LABOREKS. 59 

that subject, which contained a fair statement 
of what was subsequently a cause of so much 
complaint against him. It is the substance of 
what has ever been the "Wesleyan doctrine of 
entire sanctification. 

The following- letter contains more expres- 
sions of approval of the same doctrine. 

" I think there is not one thing in the jour- 
nal that ought to be omitted. The manner you 
speak of yourself cannot be mended, supposing 
you have done justice to the grace you have 
received. We never forget to recommend you, 
and all your undertakings, at the throne of 
grace; and as long as you follow the Lord 
Jesus in simplicity and godly sincerity, I hope 
to be the happy friend that shall live and die 
by you, if the Lord permit. May you be his 
peculiar charge now, henceforth, and forever. 

" My whole heart has not one single grain, 
this moment, of thirst after approbation. I feel 
alone with God ; he fills the whole void. I see 
all mortals under my feet. I have not one 
wish, one will, one desire, but in him. He 



60 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

hath set my feet in a large room. I have won- 
dered and stood amazed that God should make 
a conquest of all within me by love. Others 
may be conquered by less gifts and graces, but 
what must that evil heart be, that nothing but 
the love of God can conquer ? I am brought 
to less than nothing. I am broken to pieces 
like the potter's vessel. O, may you thus be 
subject; may these tears be your meat day and 
night. I long to leap into the flames to get rid 
of my sinful flesh, and that every atom of these 
ashes might be separate, that neither time, 
place, nor person should stay God's Spirit. 

" Fear not, be strong, and he will establish 
you. Adieu. Your most faithful friend, 

" S. Huntingdon." 

Speaking of Mr. "Wesley's intimacy with the 
countess at the date of these letters, her biogra- 
pher says : " At this period Mr. Wesley's visits 
to Donnington Park were very frequent, Lady 
Huntingdon having a very sincere esteem for 
him, and they were much united in sentiments 
of a theological nature. Easy and aflable in 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 63 

his demeanor, he accommodated himself to 
every society, and showed how happily the 
most finished courtesy may be blended with 
the most perfect piety. In his conversation 
we might be at a loss which to admire most, 
his fine classical taste, his extensive knowledge 
of men and things, or his overflowing goodness 
of heart. While the grave and the serious 
were charmed with his wisdom, his sportive 
sallies of innocent mirth delighted even the 
young and thoughtless ; and both saw in his 
uninterrupted cheerfulness, the excellence of 
true religion." 

The same spirit in Lady Huntingdon which 
led her to seek the friendship and Christian 
counsel of the Wesleys, gave her a deep inter- 
est, from the day of her conversion, in the pub- 
lic ministrations of their fellow-laborer, George 
Whitefield. Her personal acquaintance with 
him began several years later. He preached 
frequently at her residence, and by the attrac- 
tion of his unequaled eloquence, and the per- 
sonal solicitations of her ladyship, the most 



64 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

distinguished of the English nobility were 
brought under the influence of his ministry. 

Speaking of one of these services, Lady 
Huntingdon writes to a friend : "It was a time 
of refreshing from the presence of our God. 
Several of our little circle have been wonder- 
fully filled with the love of God, and have had 
joy unspeakable and full of glory. Lady Fran- 
ces is rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God. 
It is impossible to conceive of a more real hap- 
piness than she enjoys. Dear Mr. Whitefield's 
sermons and exhortations were close, searching, 
experimental, awful, and awakening. Surely 
God was with him. He appeared to speak of 
heavenly and divine things as awful realities. 
Many of us could witness to the truth of what 
he uttered, by finding that which our hearts 
discovered and read to us. His discourses in 
the neighboring churches were attended with 
power from on high, and the kingdom of dark- 
ness trembled before the Gospel of Christ." 

Mr. Whitefield's letters to the countess may 
appear to the reader to be flattering and sub- 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 65 

servient ; and it may be to him a poor apology 
tliat this mode of address was customary then, 
if not now, for those in Whitefield's relations to 
the nobility. It is certain, however, that they 
were the honest expressions of Whitfield's im- 
passioned nature, and that he could, and did, 
when occasion required, utter humbling truths 
to the most exalted. 

Lady Huntingdon having invited him to 
visit her, and preach at the mansion she was 
then occupying at Chelsea, saying that several 
of the nobility desired to hear him, he sent the 
following answer : 

"Honored Madam,' — I received your lady- 
ship's letter last night, and write this to inform 
you that I am quite willing to comply with 
your invitation. As I am to preach, God will- 
ing, at St. Bartholomew's on Wednesday even- 
ing, I will wait upon you the next morning, and 
spend the whole day at Chelsea. Blessed be 
God, that the rich and great begin to have 
hearing ears. Surely your ladyship and Madam 
Edwin are only the first-fruits from among 



66 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

them. May you increase and multiply. I be- 
lieve you will. How wonderfully does our 
Redeemer deal with souls. If they will hear 
the Gospel only under a ceiled roof, ministers 
shall be sent to them there. If only in a 
church or a field, they shall have it there. 

" A word in the lesson, when I was last at 
your ladyship's, struck me : 'Paul preached pri- 
vately to those that were of rejputation.'' This 
must be the way, I presume, of dealing with 
the nobility who know not the Lord. O that I 
may be enabled, when called to preach to any 
of them, so to preach as to win their souls to 
the blessed Jesus ! I know you will pray that 
it may be so. As to my poor prayers, such as 
they are, your ladyship hath them every day. 
That the blessed Jesus may make you happily 
instrumental in bringing many of the noble 
and mighty to the saving knowledge of his 
Eternal Self, and water your own soul every 
moment, is the continued request, honored 
madam, of your ladyship's most obliged, obe- 
dient, humble servant, G. Whitefield." 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 67 

Of this visit he writes : " My hands have been 
full of work, and I have been among great com- 
pany. I preached twice at Lady Huntingdon's, 
to several of the nobility. In the morning the 
Earl of Chesterfield was present; in the even- 
ing the Lord Bolingbroke. All behaved quite 
well, and were in some degree affected. Lord 
Chesterfield thanked me, and said, ' Sir, I will 
not tell you what I shall tell others, how I ap- 
prove of you.' He conversed with me freely 
afterward. Lord Bolingbroke was much moved, 
and desired I would come and see him the next 
morning. I did, and his lordship behaved with 
great candor and frankness. All accepted of 
m}^ sermons, and seem not only surprised, but 
pleased. Thus the world turns round. ' In all 
time of my wealth, good Lord deliver me.' " 

In answer to another invitation from Lady 
Huntingdon, to preach in her house, he WTites : 
" Ever since reading your ladyship's conde- 
scending letter, my soul has been overpowered 
with His presence who is all in all. As there 
seems to be a door open for the nobility to hear 



68 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

the Gospel, I will defer my journey, and, God 
willing, preach at your ladyship's on Tuesday. 
On Monday morning, from nine to near eleven, 
I will be at your ladyship's, and wait to know 
your order concerning Tuesday. O that God 
may be with me, and make me humble ! I am 
ashamed to think you will admit me under your 
roof; much more am I amazed that the Lord 
Jesus will make use of such a creature as I am. 
Under a sense of this I write to you now. It is 
late, and my poor body calls for rest. But as I 
am to preach four times to-morrow, I thought 
it my duty to send these few lines to-night. 
Quite astonished at your ladyship's condescen- 
sion, and the unremitted, superabounding grace 
and goodness of Him who has loved me and 
given himself for me, I subscribe myself, hon- 
ored madam, your ladyship's most obliged, obe- 
dient, humble, and willing servant, 

'' G. Whitefield." 

While the effects of his preaching to the no- 
bility appeared, in some cases, in their attention 
to religious things, in others it was seen in their 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 69 

Bcoffings. To some it was a savor of life, and 
to others of death. The celebrated statesman, 
Horace Walpole, sneered at the power of the 
Gospel in high places. In writing to a distant 
friend, he warns him to be prepared for the 
influence of Methodism when he shall return to 
England, because some of the noblest of his 
friends had yielded to its power. After men- 
tioning several great names, some of whom had 
been notoriously wicked, he says : " The Meth- 
odists love your big sinners, as proper subjects 
to work upon ; and, indeed, they have a plen- 
tiful harvest." 

Whitefield's preaching and private labors, 
while under the countess's roof, were blessed, 
not only to the great, but to the humble. The 
following anecdote will show the different 
effect, in one case, of the same word, upon 
these opposite classes. 

Lady Huntingdon had invited some of the 
nobility to her drawing-room on one Sunday 
evening, to hear her eloquent friend. They, 
having heard him, called on her ladyship on 



70 LADY HUNTINGDON POETRAYED. 

Monday morning, and in the course of their 
remarks on his sermon said : " O my lady, of 
all the preachers we ever heard, he is the most 
strange and unaccountable. Among other pre- 
posterous things (would your ladyship believe 
it?) he declared that Jesus Christ was so willing 
to receive sinners, that he did not object to re- 
ceive even the deviVs castaways! JSTow, my 
lady, did you ever hear of such a thing since 
you were born ?" 

Lady Huntingdon acknowledged that the 
phrase was unusual. She remarked, that as 
"Whitefield was in the parlor, and could him- 
self best explain its meaning and defend its use, 
she would call him. 

Whitefield being called, was told the charge 
which the ladies preferred against him. He 
acknowledged he had used the expression, and 
replied that an incident which had just occur- 
red would be both an illustration of its meaning 
and a defense of its utterance. A poor woman, 
he said, had a few moments since begged to 
see him. She was bowed down with age and 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 71 

infirmities. She requested modestly the privi- 
lege of declaring the fact that God had par- 
doned her sins, and the means by which he had 
conferred so great a blessing. She said, that in 
passing a chapel where Whitefield was preach- 
ing, she heard him exclaim, with strong emo- 
tion, " Christ Jesus receives even the devil's 
castaways." "And then he will receive me," 
exclaimed the aged sinner, " for I am one. I 
have spent all my strength, my substance, and 
nearly all my days in the devil's service, and 
now he has cast me off to suffer the want of 
everything that can comfort me." 

And the old lady sought and found that 
Christ would receive her. 

"E'ow," continued "Whitefield, "you see it 
is true ; and God has sealed its declaration with 
his approval, in making it to one soul, at least, 
a word in season." 

The noble cavilers were silenced, and Lady 

Huntingdon sought out and instructed more 

fully in divine things, the accepted castaway. 

The following letter from Whitefield to the 
5 



72 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Countess Delitz will further exhibit the re- 
ligious character of Ladj Huntingdon's house- 
hold. 

" Good Lady Huntingdon goes on acting the 
part of a mother in Israel, more and more. For 
a day or two she has had five clergymen under 
her roof, which makes her ladyship look like 
a good a/rcJibishop, with his chaplains around 
him. Her house is a Bethel. To us in the 
ministry it looks like a college. We have the 
sacrament every morning, heavenly conversa- 
tion all day, and preach at night. This is to 
li/ve at court indeed!" 

The mutual affection of John Wesley and Mr. 
Whitefield, it is well known, was "obscured 
by a cloud for a season," by the rise of the Cal- 
vinistic controversy. We cannot ascertain that 
Lady Huntingdon was at this time acquainted 
with Whitefield. Soon after we find him 
at her house, preaching to her distinguished 
friends. The Wesley s continued friendly rela- 
tions with Lady Huntingdon after these dis- 
putes commenced, but with less cordiality and 



EARLY METHODIST CO-LABORERS. 73 

mutual pleasure. Lady Huntingdon, however, 
still desired the former union of feeling; for 
about eight years after, when the leaders of 
Methodism were all in London, she wrote to 
each of them, to secure a more frequent co- 
operation in their labor. Strong aifection for 
each other they certainly had continued to 
entertain, and had in various ways expressed. 
They responded cordially to her suggestions, 
and Wesley preached in Whitefield's Taber- 
nacle -while the latter assisted in the service, 
and the next day Whitefield officiated at the 
Foundry, assisted in the exercises by Wesley. 
In view of these expressions of Christian love, 
Lady Huntingdon writes: "Thanks be to God 
for the love and unanimity which have been 
displayed on this happy occasion. May the 
God of peace and harmony unite us all in a 
bond of aifection ! In forbearance toward each 
other, may we imitate his blessed disciples, 
so that all who take knowledge of us may say, 
' See how these Christians love one another.' " 



74 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 



CHAPTEE TV, 

LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 

In the preceding chapter we have endeav- 
ored to present a clear though brief account 
of the early Christian associates of Lady Hunt- 
ingdon. From such men as the Wesleys and 
Whitefield, and from even such extraordinary 
^'helpers" as Maxfield and JSTelson, she received 
influences which were no unimportant items 
in strengthening and directing her Christian 
character. 

We shall endeavor, in this chapter, to pre- 
sent another class of influences, by which God 
made her what she was, and fitted her for the 
great work in the church which she performed. 
We refer to the personal and family afflictions 
through which she was called to pass, and the 
severe conflict that her public position imposed 
upon her. These constituted a discipline trying 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 75 

indeed, but to which she owed much of her 
efficiency and success. 

We have seen that the death of a child first 
fully awakened to religious truth, the youthful 
Selina. Again, when personally afflicted and 
brought near to the grave, she was more clearly 
enlightened concerning her sinfulness and its 
remedy, and made acquainted with the peace 
of the believer. How much, through grace, 
this new spiritual life was sustained and quick- 
ened by "the rod," the following statements 
will enable the reader to judge. 

In the commencement of 1743, jiYe years 
subsequent to her conversion. Lady Hunting- 
don was rejoicing amid her distinguished social 
blessings ; a husband, though not converted, 
friendly to, and in some respects a helper of 
her religious life; four sons, the youngest of 
whom was already exchanging childhood for 
youth, and two daughters verging into wom- 
anhood. Into the midst of this happy fam- 
ily circle came that terrible form of disease, 
the small-pox. The glowing countenance of 



76 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Ferdinand, aged eleven, was first disfigured, 
and his manly form laid low. George, aged 
thirteen, immediately followed him to tte 
grave. I^one but parents who have thus suf- 
fered, know how desolate then were the deco- 
rated rooms and splendid saloons of Donnington 
Park to Lord and Lady Huntingdon. The 
former was sustained, alas ! only by philosophy, 
but the latter, by a strengthening Christian 
faith. 

But this affliction, severe as it was, was 
only preparatory to one still more painful. In 
less than two years after, Lord Huntingdon 
was arrested by death, in the full vigor of 
manhood, being but forty-nine years old, and 
while surrounded by life's coveted attractions, 
wealth, honor, and power. He died of apo- 
plexy, while tarrying at his house in Downing- 
street, "Westminster. 

From the shock of these sudden and re- 
peated bereavements Lady Huntingdon never 
recovered her former elasticity of spirits. She 
placed a bust of herself upon the tomb of her 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 77 

husband, seeming thus to declare that she still 
lingered in affection around the place of his 
burial. If before this she had any remaining 
affection for the worldly display surrounding 
her position, she renounced it now. During 
the six months following her husband's death, 
she remained in entire privacy at Donning- 
ton Park. 

From the death of Lord Huntingdon until 
her son became of age, she had the sole man- 
agement of the family estates. Instead of sitting 
down in unavailing griefs, or yielding herself 
up to sinful repinings, she began immediately 
so to use her new responsibilities as to increase 
her usefulness. When called to resign this 
position to her eldest son, the young Lord 
Huntingdon, she removed with her family from 
Donnington Park to London, and took up her 
residence in Park-street. 

About the time of these inroads by death 
upon her family. Lady Huntingdon was seri- 
ously indisposed. And again, after her removal 
from the Huntingdon mansion, she was seized 



78 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

with a violent disease, and her friends became 
alarmed for her. An express was sent for 
Whitefield, who hastened by post to her sick 
chamber. Being reluctant to employ medical 
aid, she at last yielded to the solicitations of 
her friends, and sent for a Dr. Stonehouse, a 
family acquaintance. This celebrated man was 
at this time infidel in his principles. As the 
physician of the countess, he came, more than 
ever, within her influence and the influence of 
the pious persons of her acquaintance. The 
consequence was, that his skepticism was first 
weakened, and finally exchanged for an evan- 
gelical faith in Christ. He became subse- 
quently an eminent preacher of the Gospel. 
Thus God wrought, indirectly, the good of others 
by her illness. 

Upon herself these personal chastenings were 
highly beneficial. She thus expresses herself 
while suffering under them : " How many sore 
trials has my Saviour showed me, yet in the 
midst of them his comforts have refreshed my 
soul. Truly I can say, he is 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 79 

' The spring of all my joys, 
The life of my delights ; 
The glory of my brightest days, 
The comfort of my nights.' 

"I feel perfectly resigned to suffer all my God 
shall think fit to lay upon me ; for I am forcibly 
persuaded he will give strength according to 
my day, and fully perfect what concerns me. 
When ready to be discouraged by outward and 
inward trials, he always appears for my sup- 
port. ITever did I feel so much reconciled to 
the cross. When it ceases to be necessa/ry^ I 
shall suffer no more. O, what cause have I to 
trust in him for all things, when he has so 
clearly revealed his dear Son in me ! In mo- 
ments of secret anguish he never permits me 
to lose sight of a reconciled God, or of my union 
to the Lord Jesus Christ." 

To a valued friend, who had written a letter 
of condolence concerning her late sickness, 
she writes, after a partial recovery : 

" I have this day received a fresh mark of 
your unwearied pains and thoughts about me. 



80 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Alas! did you know the continual sighs and 
tears I am offering through the weakness and 
unprofitableness of my life, they would speak 
cruel and bitter answers to the tender care of all 
my dear friends. I often look to that bed which 
promises me a refuge from an evil world, and 
from a yet more evil heart; but how does it 
bound, as a roe or a hind over the m- antains, 
when that all-transporting view presents itself! 
presents, O glorious ! an eternity of joy, to fol- 
low this glad release from time ; everlasting tri- 
umphs sounding throughout the angelic thrones 
to welcome my arrival. Such love and pity 
dwell in heaven, and only there, for misery and 
poverty like mine. What liberty to delight in 
that which is most excellent ! How enlarged 
those faculties which can take in celestial puri- 
ty, and, by sweet attraction, engage and eter- 
nally maintain a union with it ! Thus do I look 
on death. He is called a monster, a king of 
terrors, but as a Gabriel's salutation shall my 
soul meet him. He can bring no other message 
to the redeemed in Christ but, ' Hail, thou art 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 81 

highly favored of the Lord ;' and though it is 
true so great a stranger can surprise for a little, 
yet his smiles of victory will clear even the 
grievances of flesh and blood, and make the 
grave appear a consecrated dormitory for sweet 
repose. O glorious Immanuel, how, how do I 
long for '.hat immortal voice to praise thee with ; 
and till ia«n, that mortal one which may sound 
through earth thy love to man !" 

We should not clearly exhibit the manner by 
which God bore the countess through the disci- 
pline of his providence, if we did not glance at 
the ready and stirring words of cheer, uttered 
by her pious co-laborers in the cause of Christ. 
The gifted, but eccentric Berridge, whom we 
shall introduce more formally to the reader 
by-and-by, writes to her concerning her sick- 
ness, with a dashing pen, but a full, warm, and 
sincere heart. 

"Mrs. Bateman acquaints me that your 
ladyship has been ill of a fever, but is now 
better. I was glad to hear of both. Nothing ex- 
pels undue grief of mind like bodily correction. 



82 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

[N'othing makes the child leave crying like the 
rod ; at ] east I find it so by experience. However, 
I durst not send such consolation to many Chris- 
tians, because they are not able to see the truth, 
or bear the weight of it. I saw your heart was 
sorely pained, and I pitied you, but durst not 
soothe you ; for soothing, though it eases grief 
for a moment, only makes Lady Self grow more 
burdensome, and occasions more tears in the 
end. A little whipping from your Father will 
dry up your tears much sooner than a thousand 
pretty lullabies from your brethren. And now 
I hope you will be well soon." 

In a characteristic strain of fervent piety is 
the letter, on a like occasion, of Fletcher of 
Madeley : 

"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 
who tried Israel, and led them through many a 
wandering to the good land, that he might do 
them more good in their latter end, this faithful 
God has met with you ; a rod is in his hand, 
but that hand bears so deej^ a print of love, 
that the design of his visitation cannot be mis- 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 83 

taken. Nor does it come without the support- 
ing staff ; He kills to make alive ; He wounds 
to heal; He afflicts to comfort, and to do it 
more deeply and effectually. My hearty 
prayer for your ladyship is, that you may drink 
the cup the Lord holds out to you, as a new 
token of his unchangeable love; I call it un- 
changeable, because it is really so in its nature, 
though the appearances of it greatly vary, for 
the trial of faith. ... I have often heard your 
ladyship speak admirably upon knowing Christ 
and the power of his resurrection, and the fel- 
lowship of his sufferings. The Lord will have 
you improve in that heavenly knowledge, there- 
fore he gives you so long a lesson at this time. 
The lesson is hard, I grant, but the Master is 
so loving^ the science so noble, and the scholar 
so used to severe exercises, that it is no wonder 
you are placed in this highest form. IS'o cross, 
no crown ! The heavier the cross, the brighter 
the crown !" 

Her ladyship needed not only these exer- 
cises in the school of affliction, but the enrap- 



84 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

turing anticipations of her eternal glory, ex- 
pressed in her own letter, as well as the sympa- 
thies of mature Christians, to fit her for the full 
cup of affliction, placed to her lips in later years. 
In 1757 her youngest son, the Hon. Henry 
Hastings, was removed by death. On this oc- 
casion Whitefield wrote, in the fullness of his 
Christian sympathies, the lines : " Who but the 
Redeemer can possibly describe the yearnings 
of a tender parent's heart ? Surely your ladyship 
is called to cut off a right hand, and pluck out 
a right eye ; but it is the Lord, let him do what 
seemeth to him good ! This has often been the 
case with the best of people, and the greatest 
favorites of Heaven ; but none know the bitter- 
ness of such a cup but those who are called to 
drink it. If not sweetened with a sense of the 
love and mercy of God in Christ, who could 
abide it? What pruning do these luxuriant 
branches require in order to preserve the fruit, 
and the delicacy of the vine. Blessed be God 
that there is a time coming when these digni- 
fied, mysterious providences shall be explained." 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 85 

We are not informed whether this young 
lord had the influence of the grace of the Gos- 
pel, which so adorned his mother. But the 
bereavement which followed a few years later 
was relieved by the religious experience of the 
departed. Lady Selina, youngest surviving 
child of the Countess Huntingdon, died May 
12, 1Y63, aged 26. Her personal beauty, supe- 
rior accomplishments, unusual natural abilities, 
and great amiability, had made her the favorite 
of her circle of friends. She seems to have 
added to these attractions, the adorning of a 
genuine Christian character. Her pious moth- 
er might well feel, that in such a child she pos- 
sessed the greatest of earthly treasures. She 
received great solace, while pressed with the 
cares of her public station, (often bitterly op- 
posed and shamefully misrepresented,) in the 
companionship of her much beloved Selina. 
This interest in her daughter was increased, if 
possible, by the fact that she was honored with 
the confidence of the queen, and that her hand 
liad been sought in marriage by one whom the 



86 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

mother approved as suited to her position, and 
fitted to make her happy and useful. The prep- 
arations for the nuptial ceremony gave way 
to attentions due to a sick chamber. If the 
life of this interesting young woman was 
lovely, her sickness and death were eminently 
instructive. Light from heaven, more than 
illuminating the gloom of the dark providence 
that called her thus early away, shone upon 
the last hours of her earthly life. Her mother 
has left the following record of this touching 
scene : 

" It hath pleased our dear God and only 
Saviour to take from me my dearest, my alto- 
gether lovely child and daughter. Lady Selina 
Hastings, the desire of my eyes and continual 
pleasure of my heart. On the 26th of April 
she was taken sick of a fever, which lasted 
obstinate until the 17th day from the time it 
began. On her going to bed she said she 
should never rise from it more ; and from all 
that she said to me during her illness it was 
evident that she continued satisfied she should 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 87 



not live. She said slie did not hegin to think 
about death then^ and that she had no desire to 
live ; ' therefore, my dear mother, why not 
now ? The Lord can make me ready for him- 
self in a moment ; and if I live longer I may 
not be better prepared. I am a poor creature ; 
I can do nothing of myself; I only hope you 
will be supported.' 

'' She often desired me to pray by her, and 
with great earnestness accompanied me. At 
one time she called me and said: 'My dear 
mother, come and lie down by me, and let my 
heart be laid close to yours, and then I shall 
rest.' . . . During the last four days these sen- 
tences at times fell from her : ' Jesus, teach 
me! Jesus, wash me, cleanse me, and purify 
me !' Lying quiet she said, ' Two angels are 
beckoning me, and I must go !' Another time 
she said, ' I am happy as my heart can desire 
to be.' The day before her death I came to 
her and asked her if she knew me. She 
answered, ' My dearest mother.' I then asked 

her if her heart was happy. She replied, 'I 
6 



^8 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

now well understand you/ and raising her head 
from the pillow, added, ' I am happy, mry^ very 
happy;' and then put out her lips to kiss me. 
. . . She often said, to be resigned to the will 
of God was all, and she had no hope of salva- 
tion but in the mercy of Jesus Christ alone. 
Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." 

It is instructive to notice, in the foregoing 
narrative, that the child of wealth, and almost 
royal honors, in becoming a child of God, 
has the same simple faith, the same humility, 
the same holy triumph, as well as the same 
language of love and hope, as the lowliest and 
most obscure disciple of Christ. When we be- 
come "new creatures," we become "one in 
Christ." 

Lady Huntingdon's affliction called forth the 
sympathy of many friends. Letters of condo- 
lence were sent from the noble, as well as from 
the clergy. The humble poor, also, claimed 
the privilege of lifting up a prayer for her, for 
she had never passed by them in their sor- 
rows. 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 89 

Fletcher's letter evidences his love for his 
friend, and his more abounding love for Him 
who had afflicted. He sajs : 

" Blessed be God for giving us the unspeaka- 
ble satisfaction to see Ladj Selina safely landed, 
and out of the reach of vanity. This is mercy 
rejoicing over judgment, of a truth. This is an 
answer to the blood of Jesus and prayers. 
This an earnest of what my Lord will do for 
my lady in his time. 

" Come, my lady, let us travel on, sticking 
close to our heavenly Guide ; let us keep a 
hold of the hem of his garment, by firmly be- 
lieving the arms of his wise providence and 
everlasting love are underneath us. Let us 
hasten to our friends in light ; and while we 
thus stand still we shall see the salvation, the 
great salvation of our God. He that cometh 
will come, and will not tarry ; even so, come 
quickly, and let us all be lost together in Thy 
love and praise." 

Thus comforted by God's people, and sus- 
tained by the consolation of religion. Lady 



90 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTEAYED. 

Huntingdon went forth from the house of 
mourning, to do with cheerfulness the will of 
God, which she had learned to suffer with con- 
fidence and hope. 

Death is not the greatest enemy of the happi- 
ness of the family circle. There is an anguish 
in a parent's breast, deeper than that which the 
child dying in the hope of a better life pro- 
duces. That anguish Lady Huntingdon was 
called to suflfer. Her son, who succeeded to 
his father's titles and estates, had many attract- 
ive qualities. His talents had secured him 
office and honors near to the king's person. 
His learning was superior to that of his com- 
peers. His polite accomplishments had been 
carefully studied in the highest circles at home, 
and amid the advantages of extensive travel 
abroad. But he was an infidel. Lord Chester- 
field, the plausible and flattering, but mean 
and wicked Chesterfield, had assumed over him 
the care of a father, and the adopted son too 
well learned his unbelief. 

Lord Bolingbroke too, it will be remembered, 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 91 

the witty, talented, and skeptical Bolingbroke, 
was the friend of his father, and a visitor 
at his mother's residences ; and became, 
unhappily, the son's teacher in irreligion. 
Such was young Lord Huntingdon, so far 
as we have any account of him. Wheth- 
er his mother's example and prayers won 
him to Christ at last, eternity alone must 
reveal. 

In Elizabeth, her eldest daughter. Lady Hunt- 
ingdon had not only an affectionate daugh- 
ter, but a sympathizer in her religious senti- 
ments and experience. She died in 1808, near- 
ly four score years of age. When quite young 
she was honored by the notice of the sisters of 
the reigning king. She attracted the attention 
of the court circles, by her accomplishments 
and abilities. By her marriage she became 
the Countess of Moira. Her domestic re- 
lations were happy, and highly pleasing to her 
mother. We shall glance at this young count- 
ess again in another relation. 

Thus God did not leave Lady Huntingdon 



92 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

without some outward comfort in lier family 
relations, thougli bereaved of Selina and affliqt- 
ed in tlie irreligion of her son. 

"We have before spoken of the marriage of 
Mr. Ingham, the companion of Wesley in 
Georgia, to the sister of Lord Huntingdon. 
With Mr. Ingham and his wife, Lady Hunting- 
don maintained not only a family acquaintance, 
but a valuable Christian intimacy. They were, 
indeed, worthy of her confidence. Mr. Ing- 
ham was a gentleman of superior personal at- 
tractions, a good scholar, and a popular and 
successful preacher. But through his mistakes 
and misfortunes, the countess experienced one 
of the severest afflictions of her life. After he 
had become the honored head of a "Connec- 
tion" numbering eighty flourishing societies, he 
for a season fell into serious doctrinal errors ; 
disputes, alienations, and consequent excommu- 
nications followed. The eighty societies dwin- 
dled to thirteen, and the mind of Mr. Ingham 
became depressed, and reason nearly dethroned. 
Self-crimination and regret took the place of 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 93 

his former faith and joy. In this time of dis- 
tress Lady Huntingdon flew to his relief. She 
had learned sympathy for the suffering by her 
own sorrows. She urged the sufferer to re- 
member the power of the Gospel he had offer- 
ed to others, and the fullness of mercy in 
Christ. Mr. Ingham was soon restored to per- 
sonal enjoyment and usefulness, and acknowl- 
edged the labors of the countess as the means, 
under God, of his happy restoration. The joy 
of the countess was increased at this result 
when, soon after, both Mr. Ingham and his 
wife were called to the glorious Church 
above. 

We must present one more mournful scene. 
It occurred in the short interval between the 
death of the countess's son Henry and her 
daughter Selina, in 1760. Its painful impress- 
ion long remained upon her mind, and wrought 
deeply upon the sensibilities of her family, as 
well as the community generally. We will 
spare the reader the revolting details, but will 
present so much of the affair as to enable him 



94 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

to appreciate the mental agony which tried 
the faith and constancy of her ladyship. 

Her cousin Laurence, Earl of Ferrers, was 
a young man of brilliant talents and refined 
education. High expectations were formed of 
him by his friends, which were, alas! sadly 
disappointed. He indulged freely in intox- 
icating drinks, and became a slave to a violent 
temper. He first periled the hfe of his wife, 
by beating her, and carrying his pistol and 
other deadly weapons to his sleeping chamber, 
and threatening in his paroxysm of anger to use 
them against her. On these accounts the House 
of Lords granted her a separation from him, 
and appointed stewards to receive, on her 
behalf, a part of the income of his estates. At 
this his lordship was greatly enraged. He 
deliberately, and under aggravating circum- 
stances, shot an old and faithful household 
servant who had aided, according to law, in 
carrying out for Countess Ferrers these pro- 
visions. He armed himself against arrest with 
a dagger, two pistols, and a blunderbuss. He 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 95 

was, however, arrested, and carried before his 
peers, the House of Lords, for trial. As if in 
contempt of his solemn arraignment, he came 
before the house in the dress in which he 
appeared at the horse races, and made for such 
occasions. Every effort to save his life was 
made by his family and friends, but in vain. 
He gloried in his shame, and the lords turned 
from him in disgust. He was condemned to 
be hanged, and was committed to the Tower. 
While thus confined, many religious persons 
became interested to secure his sincere peni- 
tence, that he might not go into eternity with 
the guilt of blood upon his soul. His brother, 
the Rev. Walter Shirley, Lady Huntingdon, 
and Whitefield, were unceasing in their atten- 
tions to him. He showed a dislike to their 
visits and religious instruction. He, however, 
treated his aunt, the countess, with courtesy, 
and even sent for her, as he said, for the sake 
of comjpany. He, however, expressed a dislike 
to her efforts to cause him to feel the greatness 
of his crime, and his solemn nearness to eter- 



96 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

nity. He would say, in answer to her frequent 
appeals, "You are enough to provoke any- 
body." He was angry at being limited in his 
allowance of wine, and he amused himself with 
games of chance, until forbidden to do so at 
the request of the countess. 

Whitefield called the attention of his congre- 
gation to the lamentable condition of this 
nobleman, and led the public prayers in his 
behalf. In allusion to this pious act the sneer- 
ing statesman, Horace Walpole, said: "That 
impertinent fellow, Whitefield, told his enthusi- 
asts in his sermons, that my lord's heart was 
stone." And, indeed, this strong expression 
seemed too truthful. To the last he maintained 
the same contempt for his situation, the same 
impenitence for his crime, and the same light- 
ness toward his religious teachers. 

He had planned to take leave of his children 
(four daughters) on the scaffold, and then to 
read to them a bitter complaint against his 
wife's family and the House of Lords. His 
aunt persuaded him to a different course, and 



LADY HUNTINGDON IN AFFLICTION. 97 

he took an unfeeling leave of them the day- 
preceding. 

This most wretched man went from the 
Tower, on the morning of his execution, at his 
own request, and by the strange permission 
of the authorities, in his own open fashionable 
carriage, drawn by six horses. He was dressed 
in his wedding clothes, which were of a light 
color, and trimmed with silver. Thus trifling 
with his few remaining moments of time, he 
was launched into eternity. 

Thus was Lady Huntingdon's piety tried. 
Thus did clouds often gather around her domes- 
tic circle, and heavy personal afflictions press 
upon her, while bearing the burdens of many 
others, and of many churches. The remem- 
brance of this will help the reader to estimate 
justly her constancy of faith and love. 



98 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 



CHAPTEE Y. 

THE NOBLE FEW. 

It would have been strange indeed if one 
disciplined, as was the countess, in the school 
of sanctified affliction, and surrounded with 
such co-laborers as the leaders of Methodism, 
should have seen no conversions among her 
'friends of the nobility. We have noticed the 
fact that she let her light shine before them, 
and enticed them, by her gentle persuasions, 
to the eloquent preaching in her parlors. This 
Christian example, and these faithful sermons, 
bore much fruit. 

One of the first subjects of renewing grace 
among the nobility was Lady Ann Frank- 
land. Being influentially connected and ac- 
complished, she was appointed one of the ladies 
of honor in the royal family. Her acquaint- 
ance with Lady Huntingdon brought her 



THE NOBLE FEW. 99 

within tlie eloquent appeals of the Methodist 
preachers. She was awakened, and soon ex- 
perienced the joys of salvation, and fearlessly 
professed her faith before the world. This 
she steadily maintained, amid diflficulties the 
most appalling, until, after a few years, she was 
permitted to enter upon her final reward. 

Among the Scotch nobiHty was a lady whom 
the Lord had greatly afflicted. Her son, a 
young man of distinguished abilities, had fallen 
in the celebrated battle of Culloden. In this 
bereavement she looked in vain to her wealth, 
noble rank, and their attendant fashionable 
pleasures, for consolation. Being without re- 
ligion, her depression of mind bordered on 
the loss of reason. Her husband, the Marquis 
of Lothian, being one of the Scotch peers, 
returned to the British Parliament; they 
became acquainted, during their residence in 
England, with Lady Huntingdon. In her 
parlors they heard the gospel preached with 
convicting power. The marquis was the first 
to inquire what he should do to be saved. To 



100 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

him, in this state of mind, Wlntefield wrote: 
" Ton do well, my lord, to fear lest your con- 
victions should wear off. Your lordship is 
in a dangerous situation in the world. Come, 
then, and lay yourself at the feet of Jesus. As 
to praying in your family^ I entreat you, 
my lord, not to neglect it. You are bound to 
do it. Apply to Christ for strength to over- 
come your present fears. They are the effect 
of pride or infidelity, or both." 

The marquis, thus instructed, soon became an 
humble and bold Christian. In the meantime 
the marchioness, under the labors of Lady 
Huntingdon, was learning the way of salva- 
tion by faith. Her despondency soon gave 
way to hope, and her mourning was turned 
into rejoicing. From this time these persons 
of rank and influence became examples of 
humble piety, both while on official business 
in England, and among their peers in Scot- 
land. 

"We have had occasion to allude to Lord 
Bolingbroke's acquaintance with the Methodist 



THE NOBLE FEW. 101 

preachers. Although their words were with- 
out fruit in him, his half-brother, Lord St. 
John, heard and believed. Scarcely had he 
become confirmed in the faith, when he was 
required to test its efficacy in death. "He 
died expressing his firm reliance on the Lord 
Jesus Christ, renouncing every dependence 
on his own merits." Thus was his infidel 
and scoffing brother compelled, in his rejection 
of religion, to do it against the most sensible 
evidence of its truthfulness. 

In the splendid palace of Twickenham, Lon- 
don, lived Lady Fanny Shirley, aunt to Lady 
Huntingdon. She had been conspicuous in 
the court of George the First for her beauty 
and accomphshments. The most distinguished 
men of her times were frequent visitors at 
her residence. Literary men sought her patron- 
age, and the poet Pope, with others, extolled 
her beauty and talents in fulsome verse. 
When she renounced the society of the great, 
and the pleasures of the gay, for a profess- 
ion of religion, and the real comfort of the 



lt)2 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Christian, Horace Walpole turned away from 
her, exclaiming, " Saint Fanny !" 

She witnessed a good confession for many 
years. She opened her saloons (where so 
lately the great had gathered in thoughtless 
pleasure) for the preaching of the Method- 
ists. During frequent attacks of illness, she 
astonished her physician by her patience, 
and frequent rejoicings under long-continued- 
and severe pain. "How is this?" he inquired. 
" I have not found ladies of your rank in this 
frame of mind." 

"This," answered a Christian friend, who 
sat near her, "is the fruit of our holy religion." 
Her wealth, her position, and her talents, 
were all laid at the foot of the cross. In her, 
Lady Huntingdon found a valuable co-laborer, 
and the more timid professors among her 
associates, a guide and defender. Lady Shirley, 
in her turn, received much encouragement 
from the frequent presence of Whitefield at 
her house, and from his cheering letters. He 
writes, with other stirring words: "I doubt not 



THE NOBLE FEW. 103 

but you meet with daily crosses. Persons 
that stand alone, and in high places, must 
expect storms. But Jesus is willing and able 
to uphold you. Thanks be to his great name 
for giving you such a share of prudence and 
courage. Without being attached to any 
party, may you be preserved unspotted from 
the world, and be a common friend to all." 

An intimate friend of Lady Shirley, Lady 
Chesterfield, became her companion in the joy 
of personal religion, and in the reproach of 
Christ. She was the wife of Lord Chesterfield, 
and the near relative of the king. Her hon- 
ors, her wealth, and her influence were great. 
The infidel sentiments of her husband, as well 
as every circumstance in her position, rendered 
a life of prayer and a profession of religion a 
duty requiring more than usual self-denial and 
cross bearing. But with great faithfulness did 
she perform it. She retired from the court 
circles, except when constrained to attend by 
the urgent wishes of her husband. On one 
such occasion she received evidence that her 
1 



104 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 

profession of religion, and consequent associa- 
tion with tlie itinerant preachers, had become 
known and been ridiculed by her former friends. 
She wore, on the occasion, a rich but plain 
dress. The king, forgetting certainly his own 
self-respect, as well as the courtesy due to his 
relative and friend, taunted her with having 
consulted Whitefield in its selection, " for," he 
remarked, " I hear you have attended on him 
this year and a half." The injured lady mild- 
ly but boldly replied, that his majesty had 
heard the truth concerning her warm attach- 
ment to the preaching and doctrines of Mr. 
Whitefield. 

Her faith was tried in the melancholy death, 
without hope, of her husband. In relation to 
his last moments Lady Huntingdon says : "1 
saw my dear and valued friend a short time 
before his departure. The blackness of dark- 
ness, accompanied by every gloomy horror, 
thickened most awfully around his dying mo- 
ments. Dear Lady Chesterfield could not be 
persuaded to leave his room for an instant. 



I 



THE KOBLE FEW. 106 

What unmitigated anguish has she endured. 
But her confidential communications I am not 
at liberty to disclose. The curtain has fallen. 
His immortal part has passed to another state 
of existence. O ! my soul, come not thou unto 
his end." 

After his death, during the few remaining 
years of her life. Lady Chesterfield made her 
splendid rooms the place of frequent preaching, 
and her house became noted as a house of 
prayer. 

Though opposed by the influence of her hus- 
band, Lady Chesterfield was not alone, among 
her relatives, as a professor of faith in Christ. 
Her sister, the Countess of Delitz, was among 
the brightest gems in the number of "noble 
women." Her residence, too, became a "Beth- 
el," to which the leading Methodist reformers 
came and preached Christ to the great, and 
from which they went forth refreshed, to min- 
ister to the more lowly but no less attentive 
hearers of their message. 

We have thus seen that the wife and wife's 



106 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

sister of Lord Chesterfield were consistent and 
earnest Christians. But these were not all the 
triumphs of the Gospel in the family of this 
great but wicked nobleman. His own sister, 
Lady Gertrude Hotham, was one of the earli- 
est, most decided, and most useful of ihe pious 
females of the aristocracy. Her mansion was 
made a chapel for Whitefield, the "Wesleys, Ko- 
maine, Howel Harris, and kindred spirits. 
Her purse assisted to supply the temporal 
wants of the needy preachers, and helped in 
defraying the expense of houses of worship 
erected in places destitute of faithful preaching. 
We shall detain the reader a few moments, 
to notice the work of Divine grace in her fam- 
ily. "We shall be deeply interested to observe, 
that, though chastened, she was blessed with a 
household faith. How powerful must be that 
Gospel which saves the children of the great 
from the flattery, the excitement of worldly 
pleasures, the allurements of titles and honors^ 
and the pride that wealth hegets, which their 
position presents, and secures to them the un- 



THE NOBLE FEW. 107 

affected simplicity of a Christian character. 
Yet all this it did for the children of Ladj 
Hotham. Her oldest daughter was the first of 
the children to become a professed Christian. 
Soon after the parental home became the place 
where Whitefield uttered his stirring appeals, 
she was awakened and converted. Clear evi- 
dence of this was afforded in her holy temper, 
and activity in every good enterprise. She 
became an object of general regard and love. 
Her ill health obliged her mother to remove to 
Bath, hoping that its invigorating atmosphere 
might be blessed to her recovery. Here she 
became conspicuous for her rapidly maturing 
Christian graces. They seemed to glow with a 
holier radiance amid the irreligion of the place. 
Quite soon they were submitted to the trials of 
a dying hour. When the apprehension of her 
speedy dissolution became general, Mr. White- 
field, to whom she was naturally much attach- 
ed, was hastened to her chamber. Prayers 
were offered for her, on the occasion of the 
iacrament of the Lord's Supper, at Lady Fanny 



108 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Shirley's and at Lady Huntingdon's. But 
most solemn, as well as most favored with the 
Divine presence, was the chamber of Lady 
Hotham. The beloved daughter lay in the 
mortal pains of death, her countenance glow- 
ing with heavenly animation. Many of the 
titled were there to behold the superior excel- 
lence, above worldly honors, of a title to the 
inheritance of God's children Whitefield ap- 
proached the bedside. In a subdued and 
gentle tone he repeated the promises of God, 
and called upon him in prayer for the fullness 
of his grace. The dying young woman quietly 
whispered her sense of personal unworthiness, 
the vanity of the world, and the utter insufii- 
ciency of everything out of Christ. But in him 
she was blessed. She knew in whom she trust- 
ed. With her little remaining strength she 
embraced her whole family, and, assuring them 
of her unutterable peace and joy, she fell asleep 
in Christ. 

Soon after the scenes of the sister's dying 
chamber, the oldest brother, young Lord 



THE NOBLE FEW. 109 

Hotliam, married, but soon exchanged the rela- 
tion of husband for that of widower. The 
sudden death of his young wife was sanctified 
to him. The convictions he had received from 
a pious mother and sister, and the holy atmos- 
phere of home^ matured, under his aiSliction, 
into a full purpose to be a Christian. He made 
a profession of religion, amid the cutting 
taunts of his uncle and the sneers of the court. 
He defied all this in the strength of Divine 
grace, and became " singularly good." Being 
nearly of the same age of young Lord Hunt- 
ingdon, and connected by the ties of distant 
relationship and boyhood acquaintance, they 
were very intimate. Hope was entertained, at 
one time, that Lord Hotham's piety would pre- 
vail in its influence over Lord Huntingdon, and 
supplant the influence of Chesterfield and Bo- 
lingbroke's skepticism, and that Lady Hunting- 
don would rejoice in a Christian son. In this 
hope Whitefield wrote to Lady Shirley: "It will 
be pleasant to see Sir Charles and the earl striv- 
ing who shall go fastest to heaven. Your lady- 



110 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTEAYED. 

ship will scorn to be outstripped by any. The 
Almighty God approves the ambition, and an- 
gels look down with pleasure to see the event" 
Though the hopes entertained of Hunting- 
don's conversion were disappointed, Charles 
continued steadfast. He was advanced to 
honor in an office near the person of the king ; 
but death removed him, in the midst of his 
usefulness, soon after his Christian profession. 
On the very evening that the news of his death 
in Germany, whither he had gone for his 
health, reached his mother, she was laid on a 
dying couch. Having been reading alone, and 
reclining toward her light, her neck and head- 
dress took fire, and she was burned sadly. She 
lingered two weeks in great suffering, but the 
grace of God triumphed, and lifted her mind 
above her bereavements, and above bodily pain, 
and she gloried in the God of her salvation. 
She called upon her friends to bless God for 
the accident ; to bless God for everything. 
She dwelt much upon the merits of the atone- 
ment. In that alone she rested. Elevating her 



THE NOBLE FEW. Ill 

voice after a long silence, slie exclaimed: 
"Enough; happj, happy !" and her spirit fled 
to God. 

Such was the experience of the sister of 
Lord Chesterfield. How strikingly contrasted 
with the darkness of his death, was the heav- 
enly illumination of her last moments. Be the 
Christian's death mine. 

In the illustrations we have given of the 
power of saving faith among the great, Lady 
Huntingdon was made the instrument either 
of imparting or strengthening that faith. Her 
drawing-rooms had been the place where the 
awakening truth was heard. Her example 
had encouraged attendance upon a ministry 
which was blessed of God. Her experience 
in grace, now advanced and established, made 
her the instructor of the inquirer, and helper 
of the believer. In the progress of our nar- 
rative we shall see that she was still further 
blessed in saving souls through the chapels she 
erected and maintained. We allude to this 
fact now. in order to bring the experience of a 



112 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

distinguished Scotch nobleman and of his fam- 
ily before the reader. 

Lady Huntingdon had just opened a place 
for an earnest ministry at Bath. Lord Buchan, 
whose family name was Erskine, had left his 
native hills, to seek at this famous resort the 
restoration of fast declining health. While 
thus seeking a temporal blessing he obtained 
the pearl of great price. He was attracted to 
her ladyship's chapel. Whitefield, Wesley, 
Fletcher, Yenn, and others there preached, and 
hard, indeed, must have been the heart which 
could remain unmoved under such ministra- 
tions. Lord Buchan's conversion was followed 
by the conversion of his wife. She was distin- 
guished above her compeers for natural powers 
of mind, and they had been so cultivated that 
she had become conspicuous in her influence. 

The conversion and fellowship with the 
"Methodists" of such persons, of course excited 
attention, and caused many remarks among the 
gentry. 

While obtaining evidence of life in Christ, 



THE NOBLE FEW. 113 

Lord Buchan was rapidly approaching the 
grave. A few days before his death, he called 
Lady Huntingdon to his dying chamber. As 
soon as he could speak he said : " I have no 
foundation of hope whatever but in the sacrifice 
of the Son of God. I have nowhere else to 
look, and my confidence in him is as fi/rm as a 
TockP He was filled with joy unspeakable and 
full of glory. Calling his children around him, 
he blessed them in God's name, and added, 
in strong confidence, " Tea, and they sTiall 
be blessed." ITear his last moments he ex- 
claimed: " Had I strength of body, I would not 
be ashamed before men and angels, to tell what 
the Lord Jesus hath done for my soul. Come, 
Holy Ghost ! Come, Holy Ghost ! Happy, 
happy, happy!" Thus died this young convert 
to the pardoning love of God, 

His funeral service, conducted by Whitefield, 
was attended at the Lady Huntingdon's chapel 
by a crowd of the great and gay. Many of 
them from this period dated the beginning of 
a new life. 



114 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

lu view of this providence Lady Huntingdon 
writes, with a full heart: "His lordship's de- 
parture was not only happy, but triumphant 
and glorious. Though arrived at the very sum- 
mit of assurance, and experiencing much of 
those rapturous communications which are 
often made, at the last moments, to the souls of 
departing saints, he felt abased in the dust on 
account of his own vileness and utter wretch- 
edness, (by nature,) and his continued cry was, 
* God be merciful to me a sinner !' I have wit- 
nessed the dismissal of many from the burden 
of mortality, but I have seldom seen an end 
more satisfactory, more solidly happy, or more 
triumphant. Thanks, unceasing thanks to Him 
who hath, in his infinite goodness, blessed the 
preaching of a house which he hath enabled 
me to build ; and attended the labors of his vile 
and unprofitable servant with the benediction 
of his Spirit. JSTot unto me, not unto me, O 
my God ; but unto thee^ and unto thy free and 
sovereign grace, be all the glory." 

The fruit of Lord Buchan's conversion and 



THE NOBLE FEW. 115 

happy death were seen, not only in the court cir- 
cles generally, but in his own family. His son 
immediately succeeded to his estates and title- 
Of him Whitefield writes ; " The present nohle 
earl hath got the blessing, indeed, and seems, 
upon the best evidence, determined to know 
nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. He 
stands here in town, against all opposition, like 
an impregnable rock, and I humbly hope will 
prove the Daniel of the age. He must be, nay, 
he hath been already thrown into a den of 
lions ; but he hath One with him who stops the 
lion's mouth. You will encourage all God's 
people to pray for him." 

Another, describing his character and relig- 
ious profession, says : " If the love of freedom, 
and the love of literature ; if eminent pro- 
ficiency in the fine arts, and an eager fondness 
to patronize the same proficiency in others ; if 
classic and pratriotic enthusiam, associated with 
not a few moral virtues, are calculated to 
recommend any man to the esteem and praise 
of his cotemporaries, David, Earl of Buchan, 



116 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

could not easily fail of obtaining their highest 
approbation." 

Yet he esteemed not all of these enough. 
He made a public profession of faith in Christ, 
and was assailed by a storm of ridicule, 
reproach, and contempt from his former asso- 
ciates. He wisely strengthened his religious 
position by appointing as his chaplains, and 
associating intimately with such men as Wes- 
ley, Fletcher, Yenn, and Berridge. This pious 
nobleman died in 1829, at an advanced age, 
having, it is believed, "fought a good fight, 
and kept the faith." 

His eldest sister. Lady Anne Erskine, was 
another trophy of Divine grace in this family. 
In childhood she had been awakened by the 
faithful preachers of her own Scotland. But 
she came to Bath with her invalid father, an 
unconverted, if not a thoughtless, gay woman. 
Here she experienced the renewing grace of 
God, and became a bosom companion of Lady 
Huntingdon. 

In 1750, when the work of revival among the 



THE NOBLE FEW. 117 

nobility had assumed a somewhat prominent 
character, and Lady Huntingdon's relation to 
this revival had become conspicuous, a young 
lord, about twenty-five years or age, arrived in 
London from a foreign tour. His grandfather 
had just died, and he was congratulated for the 
possession from him of immense wealth and the 
title of Lord Dartmouth. The young man was 
consequently envied on account of his flattering 
worldly prospects. The highest in dignity and 
office paid him respect, and those esteemed the 
most refined and fashionable, courted his soci- 
ety. But the young Lord Dartmouth disap- 
pointed them all, and displeased and chagrined 
many, by becoming, just at this period, a de- 
spised Methodist. Through an introduction to 
Lady Huntingdon, he was invited to hear 
preaching in her parlors. Tlie word proved 
the savor of life unto him. He openly and 
boldly professed his sentiments and Christian 
experience. His marriage, at thirty years of 
age, to a lady fully sympathizing with these 
religious feelings, assisted in confirming his 



118 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

position and increasing his usefulness. At first 
some of his relatives, who held high offices of 
state, repelled him from their society on ac- 
count of his Methodism. But they were won 
to fellowship for him by his upright and noble 
character, and he was himself elevated to the 
office of Secretary of State for the American 
department, and afterward to the office of 
Lord Steward, and also to that of Lord Keeper 
of the Privy Seal. When, at one time, he was 
offered the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, one 
remarked, that if he obtained that position of 
influence, he should not wonder if he made 
John Wesley a bishop. The remark showed 
but little appreciation of the character of either 
the lord or the great reformer. It was true, 
however, that Lord Dartmouth was a firm 
friend to the evangelical clergy. He secm*ed, 
by his influence at court and with the bishops, 
the ordination of many useful ministers, who 
would otherwise have been rejected for their 
sympathy with Lady Huntingdon and the Wes- 
leys. His wealth assisted in building chapels 



THE NOBLE FEW. 119 

and in aiding the humble but efficient " help- 
ers" in their self-sacrifing labors. In the his- 
tory of the great revival of his day his name 
appears at every turn. !N"ow he is interceding 
at court for some wronged clergyman ; then we 
find him accompanying a leading itinerant on 
his circuit, making one of his congregation in 
the fields, or chapels, or by the wayside, or 
wherever the place of preaching happens to be. 
We meet him devising, with Lady Huntingdon, 
plans of extensive usefulness, which may aflfect 
largely continents and future generations ; or 
see him, in unobtrusive charity, supplying the 
temporal wants of some humble disciple of 
Christ. The founding of our own Dartmouth 
College^ at Hanover, 1^. H., was laid in part by 
his munificence, and received its name from 
that fact. A portrait of his noble person is the 
chief ornament of one of the college halls. 

To Lord and Lady Dartmouth's example, 
the reformation among the great was more 
indebted, we think, than to any of their class, 
excepting Lady Huntingdon. 



120 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

It is evident that even the royal family were 
not wholly uninfluenced for good by the con- 
verted nobility and their preachers. The oldest 
son of George 11. died during his father's 
reign, in the forty-fifth year of his age. As 
Prince of Wales and heir to the English 
throne, he had great influence. Upon him 
Bolingbroke and Chesterfield tried the influ- 
ence of their subtle infidelity. But curiosity 
had led the prince to hear privately Whitefield 
preach. He avowed that he was much pleas- 
ed, and he pursued his inquiries concerning the 
doctrines of the Wesleys, Whitefield, and their 
co-laborers. He was able, therefore, to meet 
Bohngbroke in argument, who declared that 
his royal highness was fast verging toward 
Methodism. The works of Philip Doddridge 
were read by the prince, and made a deep im- 
pression upon his mind. These circumstances 
were remembered with much interest by his 
pious friends, in connection with his sudden 
death. 

Thus the great revival, one phase of whose 



THE NOBLE FEW. 121 

development we are sketching, reached, in 
its personal saving influence, quite near the 
throne itself. Thus it is with the Gospel. It 
blesses alike the inmate of the cottage and the 
palace. 



122 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 



CHAPTEE YL 

DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 

Having made the reader acquainted with 
some of the " noble few," we purpose, in this 
chapter, to introduce him to other distinguished 
friends of Lady Huntingdon. Though necessa- 
rily often in the company of her former associ- 
ates, and respecting many of them for their 
position and accomplishments, they could not, 
after her conversion, be her chosen companions. 
She sought, and much enjoyed, the fellowship 
of the people of God. And it was eminently 
true, as the reader will learn from this chapter, 
that by forsaking the society of the uncon- 
verted, she found an extensive circle of valued 
Christian friends. 

It has been said, "A man's character is 
known by the company he keeps." There is 
much truth in this remark. We feel, there- 



DISTINGUISHED FEIENDS. 123 

fore, that we cannot better exhibit the religious 
features of Countess Huntingdon's character, 
than by introducing the reader to those with 
whom she was in habitual religious intercourse. 
If we can understand their ability, piety, and 
influence, we shall be able better to appreciate 
the countess in these respects. 

We have already been made acquainted with 
those who were her instructors and early co- 
laborers, Whitefield and the Wesleys. One of 
the next eminent persons whom we find in her 
company is Dr. Watts. He appears as her 
friend about the year 1Y42, only a short time 
before he left the Church on earth for the 
Church in heaven. He was residing at the 
mansion of Sir Thomas Abney, who was at one 
time Lord Mayor of London. 

Being invited by Lady Abney, then a widow, 
to visit her residence and become more fully 
acquainted with the doctor, Lady Huntingdon, 
with others of the nobility, and several clergy- 
men, on one occasion dined with her: "You 
have arrived," remarked Dr. Watts, "on an 



124 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

extraordinary day, for this day thirty years, I 
came to the house of my good friend. Sir Thomas 
Abney, intending to spend but a single week 
under his hospitable roof, and I have extended 
my visit to the length of thirty years." " I 
consider your visit," replied Lady Abney, " as 
the shortest my family ever received." 

At the dinner, the conversation turned upon 
the preaching of the Wesleys and Whitefield. 
"It is a blessing," said Dr. Watts, "of incalcu- 
lable value that such men should have been 
raised up as embassadors of Christ, to make 
known the great salvation to the minds of men." 

Lady Huntingdon having mentioned several 
remarkable illustrations of the effects of their 
powerful preaching, the doctor added : " Such, 
my lady, are the fruits that will ever follow the 
faithful proclamation of Divine mercy. The 
Lord our God will crown his message with suc- 
cess, and give it an abundant entrance into the 
hearts of men." 

At parting, he took the countess most affec- 
tionately by the hand, pronounced a paternal 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 127 

benediction, and added : " I bless God that I 
can lie down to sleep in comfort, no way 
solicitous whether I awake in this world or 
another." From this time, through the few 
remaining years of Dr. "Watts's life, the countess 
sought his society and counsel, and was blessed 
with his approval and co-operation in her 
labors. 

Another honored servant of the Church 
now steps forward. He is not a Churchman, 
but a Dissenter, an " Independent," and there- 
fore neither he nor Watts would seem to 
belong to this company; at any rate, not at 
this early period of Lady Huntingdon's career. 
But he is not exclusive in his denominational 
feelings, and her ladyship already feels that 
earnest piety is more than creeds. It is Philip 
Doddridge. His earlier services as tutor in 
a school for the education of young men for 
the ministry, and his present position as pastor 
of a church at ^Northampton, united with 
his learning, piety, and talents, make him an 
influential friend. He was, at this early period 



128 LADY HUNTINGDON POETEAYED. 

of the countess's labors, near the end of his 
eminently useful career. He rejoiced in the 
wonderful work of God which had just com- 
menced. Though its leaders were contemptu- 
ously called Methodists, and were everywhere 
spoken against, he shared willingly their re- 
proach, in becoming their friend and adviser. 
He preached in their chapels and drawing- 
rooms. He wrote to them letters of paternal 
council and reproof When he fell asleep in 
Christ, in 1751, Lady Huntingdon and her 
friends felt that a father and guide had fallen. 

The next friend who claims our notice is 
a true son of " the Church." But his Christian 
charity knows no parish limits. He has deeply 
drunk of the fountain of undying love. Like 
Charles Wesley, he cries: 

*' for a trumpet voice 
On all the world to call." 

Indeed, he was born the same year with 
Charles, and became a warm friend of both 
the Wesleys, and in more than one respect 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 129 

greatly resembled them. William Grimshaw 
was a marked man, and worthy to be esteemed 
the companion of the most honored ministers. 
He obtained a part of his preparation for emi- 
nent usefulness, as the Wesleys did, hy what Tie 
suffered in seeking his soul's salvation. Though 
educated at Cambridge, ordained, and settled 
over a country parish, he was unconverted. 
After many struggles, he was one day plead- 
ing in an agony that he might know his sins 
forgiven. During his wrestling, the cross 
appeared to him in a new and precious light, 
and in a moment his burden fell off, and he 
was filled with joy unutterable. 

" I was now," he says, " willing to renounce 
myself, and embrace Christ for my all and 
in all. O what light and comfort did I enjoy 
in my own soul, and what a taste of the par- 
doning love of God." 

His long night of inquiry embraced most 
of the time in which the Wesleys were seeking 
converting grace. His conversion was a few 
years later than theirs, not taking place till 



130 LADY HUNTINGDON" PORTRAYED. 

1742, but lie had not up to this time known 
them personally, nor had he read any of their 
writings. At this marked era in his history, 
a vacancy occurred in the pulpit of the small 
parish of Haworth, in Yorkshire. Its situa- 
tion was drear, and the surrounding country 
sterile and uninviting. The population was 
scattered, and, what was more dispiriting 
to a minister, apparently wholly given to 
irreligion. 

To this unpromising field came the newly 
converted Grimshaw. With a glowing coun- 
tenance, which reflected the deep emotions 
of a waiTtt heart, he preached Christ to the 
people. His free, extemporaneous style, his 
earnest manner, and, most of all, his doc- 
trine of present salvation, received by faith and 
witnessed by the Holy Spirit, attracted large 
crowds, some of whom came from a great 
distance. Hundreds were converted to God, 
and the interest in his ministry continued 
intense to its close, twenty years from this 
time. 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 131 

The fame of his preaching spread through 
the country, and Ingham, who was then 
preaching through Yorkshire with great suc- 
cess, invited Grimshaw to accompany him 
to some of his preaching-places. It was on 
one of these preaching excursions that he 
visited Ledstone, the seat of the Hastings fam- 
ily; here Lord and Lady Huntingdon became 
acquainted with him. Grimshaw preached 
with great zeal in the vicinity, sometimes in 
the parish churches; but, seldom waiting for 
the tardy consent of the clergy, he lifted up 
his voice wherever a congregation could be 
gathered. "I cannot follow Brother Grim- 
shaw," said the excellent John Newton, who 
loved a more quiet field; "he loves to live 
in the fire." 

Besides very frequent excursions with those 
more exclusively itinerant, and answering re- 
peated calls of Lady Huntingdon to supply 
her chapels at important points, Mr. Grim- 
shaw formed two circuits of his own, which 
he traveled alternately every week. One 



132 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

of these he called his idle week, because 
he preached only fourteen sermons. Some 
weeks he preached thirty, and not unfrequently 
twenty or twentj-five sermons. He sometimes 
preached ^yq times a day, and traveled, to 
do so, forty miles. Though thus itinerating, 
his labors in his own parish were increasing. 
There were within its bounds four villages, 
from which but few came to church. In each 
of them he preached three times each month, 
and thus drew within the sound of the gospel 
many who would not, or could not otherwise 
hear it. 

He learned that some excused themselves 
from coming to church, because they imagined 
their apparel not fine enough to meet the 
gaze of the church-attending people. To ac- 
commodate these, he added evening preach- 
ing to his labors. 

He was frequent in his visits from house 
to house, warning, encouraging, and instructing, 
that by all means he might save some. So 
overwhelmed was he at times with a sense 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 133 

of God's presence, that he became absorbed 
in prayer and praise. Often, at the name of 
Jesus, he would give instant utterance to his 
emotion. Such labors as above described, and 
such divine unction, were sealed with the con- 
version of many souls. Mr. Grimshaw soon 
found twelve hundred communicants in his 
own church, the most of whom gave evidence 
of saving faith ; and his sermons in the saloons 
of the pious nobility, and those in the high- 
ways and hedges, doubtless won many more. 
His friendship for the Wesleys, and his co- 
operation with their labors, continued to the 
end of his life. Though disagreeing on some 
minor points of doctrine, they agreed in Chris- 
tian fellowship and love. 

IlTot only was he frequent in his services at 
Lady Huntingdon's parlors and chapels, but 
she sought often the parsonage and church 
at Haworth, for seasons of special refreshing 
from the presence of God ; and it appears 
from the following extract of a letter to her 
ladyship, that her visits to him were profitable 



134 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 

and highly prized. ""When will your lady- 
ship revive us with another visit? What 
blessings did the Lord shower upon us the 
last time you were here! and how did our 
hearts burn within us to proclaim his love 
and grace to perishing sinners! Come and 
animate us afresh, aid us by your counsels 
and prayers, communicate a spark of your 
glowing zeal, and stir us up to renewed activity 
in the cause of God. All the dear apostles 
go on well, all pray for your ladyship, and 
all long for your coming among us again. I 
have been a long round since you were here, 
and have seen Brothers Ingham, Yenn, Con- 
yers, and Bentley, all alive, and preaching 
Christ crucified with wonderful success." 

Quite frequent contact with such a mind 
and heart, with occasional interchange of let- 
ters, could not fail to be an important item 
in determining Lady Huntingdon's character, 
and in furthering her labors. 

Mr. Grimshaw died in the triumphs of the 
faith he preached. His only son was, until 



DISTINGUISHED FEIENDS. 135 

after Ms father's death, a drunkard, but the 
influence of prayer and pious example finally 
prevailed, and he was genuinely converted. 

"What will my father say," exclaimed 
the restored prodigal, " when he sees me in 
heaven ?" 

A very different, but very excellent man 
next claims our attention. Young Romaine 
was at the University when the Wesleys and 
Whitefield were exciting attention as the lead- 
ers of "the godly club." But his sympathies 
were not with them. Ambitious for distinction, 
and surrounded by young men of fashion and 
wealth, he thought but little of serious things. 
He, however, entered the ministry, and obtain- 
ed the pulpit of St. George's Church, Hanover 
Square, London, with a connection, as lecturer, 
with St. Dunstan's Church. A change was 
wrought by the Holy Spirit in Mr. Eomaine, 
and his preaching assumed a different char- 
acter. 

It was at this period (1750) that the shock 
of an earthquake was felt in London. In mid- 



136 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

winter, in the deep darkness of the night, the 
earth trembled, and the people feared exceed- 
ingly. While at this solemn moment Charles 
"Wesley so eloquently exclaimed at the Foun- 
dry : '' We will not fear though the earth be 
removed, and the mountains be cast into the 
sea," and Whitefield preached to the excited 
multitudes on Kensington Common, on a 
"judgment to come," Romaine lifted up his 
voice at St. George's, crying, "Turn ye, for 
why will ye die ?" 

As the Methodist reformers had been exclud- 
ed from the Church, it is said that no pulpit 
belonging to the clergy improved this solemn 
occasion, except Romaine's. His natural elo- 
quence, his learning, his heartfelt earnestness, 
and, most of all, his new doctrine of present 
salvation by faith, drew crowds to his church. 
His genteel and worldly parishioners were an- 
noyed. Eomaine was soon honored with suf- 
fering for Christ's sake. He was dismissed 
from St. George's and branded as a Methodist. 
His lectures at St. Dunstan's afforded him the 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 137 

pittance of one hundred dollars annually, which 
was all that was left him for the support of his 
family; and even this was soon taken from him 
through the hate of his enemies. Lady Hunt- 
ingdon threw around him her timely and 
influential countenance in this emergency. 
She made him her chaplain, and for some time 
the popular clergyman preached to the poor in 
her ladyship's kitchen. He subsequently ad- 
ministered to the polite assemblies of her par- 
lors and chapels, and everywhere held up 
Christ as the salvation of the world. 

For years his income was only a few hundred 
dollars, but he learned, in poverty and in the 
consequent necessity of rigid economy, to be 
content. He was legally elected to the Church 
of St. Ann's, Blackfriars, London, but was per- 
mitted to enter it as the minister, only after 
years of litigation. When congratulated by 
Lady Huntingdon on the decision of the court 
in his favor, he writes : " !N'ow when I was set- 
ting up my rest, and had begun to say unto my 
soul, ^Soul, take thine ease,' I am called into a 
9 



1S8 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

pnblic station; and tp the sharpest engagement, 
just as I had got into winter quarters, an en- 
gagement for life. I can see nothing before, so 
long as the breath is in mj body, but war, and 
that with unreasonable men, a divided parish, 
an angry clergy, a wicked Sodom, and a wicked 
world, all to be resisted and overcome. Be- 
sides all these, a sworn enemy, subtle and cruel, 
with whom I can make no peace, no, not a 
moment's truce, night nor day, with all his 
children and his host, is aiming at my destruc- 
tion. When I take counsel of the flesh, I begin 
to faint ; but when I go to the sanctuary, I see 
that my Master is Almighty, and then he 
makes my courage revive. ... I shall want my 
Jesus more, and get closer to him. Methinks 
I hear his voice, 'Come closer, soul; come 
closer ! nearer yet ; I will bring you into cir- 
cumstances that you cannot do without me !' " 

At first, many heard him with distrust ; but 
he lived to see his enemies at peace with him, 
and many souls converted. Upon few, if any, 
of those who co-operated with her in the ex- 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 139 

tension of ttie great revival, did the Countess 
of Huntingdon lean for counsel more than upon 
Komaine. Where we meet him again, as we 
purpose to do, amid the outpourings of the 
Spirit, in company with Grimshaw, Wesley, and 
others, we shall see that he was not a son 
of thunder, like the former, nor had he the won- 
derful weight of character of the latter, but 
that he diffused a steady, holy light. 

Methodism, through its whole history until 
the present time, has been marked by the as- 
tonishing diversity of the gifts of its ministers, 
and for the production of gifts of wonderful 
originality. There was a constellation of wor- 
thies gathered about Wesley and Lady Hunt- 
ingdon respectively, any one of whom was a 
host in himself, but widely differing from each 
other in every thing but a common baptism of 
the Holy Ghost. A sketch of John Berridge, 
of Everton, will illustrate a part of the above 
statement. He was a genius in the highest 
sense of the word. Though so hard a student 
in his earlier years that he excelled most of 



140 LADY HUNTINGDON POETEAYED. 

competitors in classical attainments, and so 
good a scholar that he attained a "fellow- 
ship" in the University of Cambridge, yet his 
strength lay in his gifts^ not in his acquisi- 
tions. His combinations of the most common 
thoughts arrested attention, and the language 
with which he uttered them fixed them in the 
memory. His humor, at all times overflowing, 
made him liable to the charge of buffoonery; 
yet his deep piety generally gave it a serious- 
ness which made it an element of great power 
in his preaching. Figures, the most striking 
and original, came crowding upon his mind 
when he spoke. The most trite subject assum- 
ed a sparkling brilliancy under his touch. At 
times his eccentricity seems insufferable in a 
Christian minister, yet John Berridge was a 
self-sacrificing, laborious, and successful servant 
of Christ. He inherited a fortune, but expend- 
ed it all in relieving the poor about him, in 
supporting the less favored itinerants, and in 
helping to extend in every way the Ke- 
deemer's kingdom. Though without a family, 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 141 

lie saved nothing from his ample living at 
Everton. Indeed, he was often in pressing 
want. 

His labors were immense. He, like Grim- 
shaw, formed circuits in the country, around 
liim. He preached ten or twelve sermons 
weekly, and rode in the same time nearly one 
hundred miles, and continued this practice for 
twenty-four years. 

He possessed a tall, manly frame, a loud, mu- 
sical voice, and an open, attractive counte- 
nance. When to these natural advantages was 
added a living, spiritual power, he became one 
of the most attractive preachers of the period 
in which he lived, though " there were giants 
in those days." Under his preaching, in his 
own parish especially, there were more of those 
strange effects upon his hearers, which have 
puzzled, if not at times stumbled, the most 
pious. As the words from his lips fell upon the 
ears of the people, they sometimes fell instantly 
to the ground. They lost all physical power, 
and were strangely exercised both in body and 



142 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

mind. Wesley, Lady Huntingdon, Romaine, 
and Grimsliaw visited him, and witnessed these 
seemingly extravagant proceedings, and bore 
testimony to the genuineness, notwithstanding, 
of the work of God in them. Wesley tarried 
with him, at one time, several days, and gives 
the following opinion of his character: "Mr. 
Berridge appears to be one of the most sim- 
ple as well as the most sensible men of all 
it pleased God to employ in reviving primi- 
tive Christianity. They came near ten or 
twelve miles to hear him ; and very few came 
in vain. His word is in power. He speaks as 
plain and home as John E"elson, but with all 
the propriety of Romaine and the tenderness 
of Mr. Hervey." 

Though Berridge was fearlessly independent 
before his congregation, and among his brethren 
in the ministry, he seems to have been a favor- 
ite with all. He was on the most intimate 
terms with Lady Huntingdon, though never 
yielding as much to her suggestions and man- 
agement as did most about her. Though labor- 



DISTINGUISHED FEIENDS. 143 

ing much for her, it was evidently always, in 
his own way and time. 

The reader is prepared, we think, for a few 
extracts from his letters to the countess. They 
exhibit the man and the minister. Unlike 
most letters which are spread upon the bio- 
graphical page, they are so natural, so evident- 
ly from the heart, and are pervaded with a 
genius so remarkable and a piety so sincere, 
that they are intensely interesting. They will 
also illustrate still further the character of his 
labors. 

Lady Huntingdon, having written an urgent 
letter to Mr. Berridge, setting forth the peculiar 
state of the work at Bath, and requesting him 
to supply the pulpit for a few weeks, propos- 
ing, as it seems, to supply his pulpit with some 
one whom she deemed less attractive to the 
gentry, Berridge replies : 

" My Lady, — I had a letter from your lady- 
ship last Saturday, and another from Lord 
Buchan. His letter required an immediate 
answer, which I sent on Monday, and then went 



144 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTE AYED. 

out a-preaching. I am now returned, and sit 
down to answer yours. But what must I say? 
Yerily, you are a good piper, but I know not 
how to dance. I love your scorpion letters 
dearly, though they rake the flesh off my 
bones ; and I believe your eyes are better than 
my own, but I cannot yet read with your 
glasses. I do know that I want quickening 
every day, but I do not see that I want a jour- 
ney to Bath. I have been whipped pretty 
severely for fighting out of my proper regi- 
ment, and for rambling out of the bounds of 
my rambles ; and while the smart of the rod 
remains upon my back, it will weigh more with 
me than a thousand arguments. All marching 
officers are not general officers, and every one 
should search out the extent of his commission. 
A Gospel minister who has a Church will have 
a diocese annexed to it, and is only an overseer 
or bishop of that diocese; and let him, like 
faithful Grimshaw, look well to it. An evan- 
gelist who has no Church is a metropolitan, or 
cosmopolitan, and may ramble all the kingdom 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 145 

or all the world over, and these are more high- 
ly honored than the other, though they are not 
always duly sensible of the honor. They are 
nearest to the apostolic character of any. 

" But whom do you recommend to the care 
of my Church? ... I do not want a helper 
merely to stand up in my pulpit, but to ride 
round my district. And I fear my weekly cir- 
cuits would not suit a London or a Bath divine, 
nor any tender evangelist that is environed 
with prunella. Long rides and miry roads in 
sharp weather ; cold houses to sit in with very 
moderate fuel, and three or four children roar- 
ing or rocking about you; coarse food and 
meager drink ; lumpy beds to lie on and too 
short for the feet ; and stiff blankets, like boards, 
for a covering. Rise at five in the morning to 
preach ; at seven breakfast on tea that smells 
very sickly ; at eight mount a horse, with boots 
never cleaned, and then ride home, praising 
God for all mercies. Sure I must stay till your 
academy is completed before I can have an 
assistant. 



146 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

" But enough of these matters. Let us now 
talk of Jesus, whom I treat in my letters as I 
deal in my heart, crowd him into a corner, 
when the first place and the whole room 
belongeth of right to himself. He has been 
whispering of late that I cannot keep my- 
self nor the flock committed to me; but has 
not hinted a word as yet that I do wrong 
in keeping close to my fold. And my instruct- 
ions, you know, must come from the Lamb, and 
not from the Lamb's wife. He has taught me 
to labor for him more cheerfully, and to loathe 
myself more heartily than I could before. I 
see myself nothing, and feel myself vile, and 
hide my head, ashamed of all my sorry services. 
I want his fountain every day, his intercession 
every moment, and would not give a groat 
for the broadest fig-leaves or the brighest 
human rags to cover me. A robe I must have, 
one of one whole piece, broad as the law, 
spotless as the light, and richer than an angel 
ever wore, the robe of Jesus." 

Directly the opposite of Berridge, in many 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 147 

features of his character, was John Fletcher, 
another intimate friend, adviser, and co-laborer 
of Lady Huntingdon. He possessed Berridge's 
genius, without his eccentricities. Though 
not as learned, and never favored with the 
physical strength which sustained Berridge in 
Herculean labors, his life was more perfectly 
hid with Christ. Though Fletcher lived at a 
period which was blessed with more brilliant 
pulpit orators than any other, perhaps, in the 
history of the Church, yet he was one of the 
most eloquent. He had a vivid imagination, 
and possessed great affluence of thought and 
richness of diction, but his hearers were not 
allowed to dwell upon these incidents of the 
orator. The fervor of his religious feelings 
took full possession of himself, and subdued 
his congregation. With him his theme^ Christ, 
was everything, himself nothing. 

Lady Huntingdon thus notices her intro- 
duction to Fletcher. In a letter dated March, 
1758, she says: "I have seen Mr. Fletcher, 
and was both pleased and refreshed by the 



148 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

interview. He was accompanied by Mr. 
Wesley, who had frequently mentioned him 
in terms of high commendation, as had Mr. 
Whitefield, Mr. Charles Wesley, and others, 
so that I was anxious to become acquainted 
with one so devoted, who appears to glory in 
nothing save in the cross of our divine Lord 
and Master. Hearing that he preached in 
French, his native language, I mentioned the 
case of the French prisoners at Tunbridge. 
May the Lord of the harvest bless his word, and 
send forth many such faithful embassadors." 

Mr. Fletcher notices this early acquaintance 
with the countess in the following manner, in 
a letter to Charles Wesley : "I was this morn- 
ing with Lady Huntingdon, who salutes you, 
and unites with me in saying, that we have 
need of you to make one in our three-fold 
cord, and to beg you would hasten your 
return, when Providence permits. Our con- 
versation was deep, and full of the energy of 
faith on the part of the countess; as to me, 
I sat as Paul at the feet of Gamaliel." 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 149 

Lady Huntingdon, appreciating Fletcher's 
abilities and piety, immediately invited him to 
become one of the preachers who, as other duties 
permitted, should administer the sacrament and 
preach the word to the elegant assemblies at 
her residence. He received this invitation with 
characteristic modesty. He says, in a letter 
to "Wesley, that he had almost resolved abso- 
lutely to fly the houses of the great, without 
excepting that of the countess ; but " charity, 
politeness, and reason " accompanying her ofier, 
his resolution wavered, and, at Mr. Wesley's 
advice, gave way, and with trembling he 
preached from the text: "Unto me, who am 
less than the least of all saints, is this grace 
given, that I should preach the unsearchable 
riches of Christ." 

His word was with such interest and profit 
to his hearers, that he spent the following win- 
ter in London, preaching at times for Wesley 
in his chapels, and frequently not only for 
Lady Huntingdon, but in the parlors of Lady 
Gertrude Hotham and Lady Fanny Shirley. 



150 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 

Having thus labored without pecuniary re- 
ward, Lady Huntingdon, very naturally think- 
ing that his temporal wants should be regarded 
by those whom he served, sent to him a check 
while supplying a distant chapel for her. The 
acknowledgment is in Fletcher's own spirit. 
" Generous as you are, madam, I believe you 
would have saved me the shame of receiving 
the present you made me at Paddington, 
had you foreseen what uneasy thoughts it raised 
in my heart. Is this not making godliness 
a gain? Can I in conscience receive what is 
devoted to the poor, when I am not in actual 
want? I am not ashamed of living upon 
charity, but to receive it without being an 
immediate object is what gives me more un- 
easiness than want could possibly do. And 
now I am deprived for many months of the 
imspeakable advantage of living upon provi- 
dence, and must live upon a stock as the rich 
of this world! Is not this a lesson? And 
does not your generosity, madam, bid me 
look to Jesus for poverty of spirit, without 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 151 

which all outward acts are nothing but pride, 
sin, misery, and lies?" 

An anecdote of the first acquaintance of 
Fletcher with Berridge exhibits a strong feat- 
ure in the character of each. 

Just before Fletcher's settlement at Made- 
ley, having occasion to visit London, he availed 
himself of the opportunity to call on Berridge 
at Everton. Being personally unknown to each 
other, Fletcher introduced himself as one seek- 
ing his counsel concerning his Christian and 
ministerial duties. Berridge, perceiving his 
foreign accent, inquired from what country he 
came. 

" A Swiss, from the canton of Berne," re- 
plied Fletcher. 

" From Berne !" said Berridge ; " then you 
can give me some account of a young country- 
man of yours, one John Fletcher, who has 
lately preached for the Messrs. Wesley, and 
of whose talents, learning, and piety, they both 
speak in terms of high eulogy. Do you know 
him ?" 



152 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

" Yes, sir, I know him intimately ; and did 
those gentlemen know him as well, they would 
not speak of him in such terms, for which he is 
more obliged for their partial friendship than 
to his own merits." 

"You surprise me by speaking so coldly of a 
countryman, in whose praise they are so warm." 

" I have the best reason to do so. I am John 
Fletcher." 

" If you be John Fletcher you must do me 
the favor to take my pulpit to-morrow; and 
when we are better acquainted, without implic- 
itly receiving your statement or that of your 
friends, I shall be able to judge for myself." 

Thus commenced a friendship which the ex- 
citing controversies even of after years did not 
impair. 

An eminent clergyman, a co-laborer of Lady 
Huntingdon, and an opponent of Fletcher on 
the Calvinistic question, thus spoke of him after 
the dust of the controversy had blown away. 
Speaking to a brother clergyman of Fletcher, 
he exclaimed ; 



DISTINGUISHED FEIENDS. 153 

" Sir, lie was a luminary ; a luminary did I 
say? he was a Sun! I have known all the 
great men for these fifty years, but I have 
known none like him. I was intimately ac- 
quainted with him, and was under the same 
roof with him once for six weeks, during which 
time I never heard him say a single word which 
was not proper to be spoken, and which had 
not a tendency to minister grace to the hearers. 
One time, meeting him when he was very ill 
of a hectic fever, which he had brought upon 
himself by his intense labors in the ministry, I 
said, ^I am sorry to find you so ill.' Mr. Fletcher 
answered, with the greatest sweetness: ^ Sorry, 
sir ; why are you sorry ? It is the chastening of 
my heavenly Father, and I rejoice in it. I love 
the rod of my God, and rejoice therein as an 
expression of his love and afiection toward me.'" 

We should leave an imperfect record of the 
shining lights which gathered around the 
countess, if we omitted to mention the name 
of Henry Yenn. Of the middle stature, robust 
frame, and ruddy countenance, with a clear 
IQ 



164 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

and powerful voice, yet tender and persuasive 
utterance, he was a public speaker to attract 
attention and be long remembered. Mr. Yenn 
had entered the ministry without a knowledge 
of converting grace. He was awakened by the 
chastening hand of God in sickness, and the 
timely reading of " Law's Serious Call to a 
Holy Life ;" but he did not learn immediately 
what he most needed to learn, " a present sal- 
vation by faith in Christ." In this state of 
mind he became acquainted, through a mutual 
friend, with Lady Huntingdon. At her house 
he became the pupil in religious truth of 
Whitefield and the Wesleys. These new ac- 
quaintances were blessed to him as the teachers 
of the more excellent way. Yenn became a 
minister of strong faith, burning religious fer- 
vor, and abundant labors. Huddersfield, one 
hundred and ninety miles northwest of London, 
in "West Yorkshire, was the important field of 
his labors. From this center he sent forth an 
influence, which was felt through a wide cir- 
cuit. He preached in the villages in neighbor- 



DISTINGUISHED FKIENDS, 155 

ing parishes, in barns, private houses, or in the 
fields ; fearless of reproach, and reckless of his 
own convenience. He was alike at home and 
faithful before the polite assemblies of Lady 
Huntingdon's parlors, and amid the unculti- 
vated crowds from the mines, workshops, and 
highways. Though not the first to enter the 
ranks of those reproached as " Methodists," of 
Lady Huntingdon's circle, he labored long and 
successfully with them. 

We have given a passing introduction of the 
reader to some of the prominent of Lady Hunt- 
ingdon's co-laborers. In a previous chapter we 
noticed a few of the converts from among the 
nobility, but we have not yet seen any of the 
converts of this class occupying the pulpit. But 
there was one, connected with the highest fami- 
lies, himself possessed of great riches, whom the 
Spirit of God awakened, converted, and sent 
into the ministry. This was Martin Madan. 

He was nominally a lawyer in London, but 
living in splendor, and indulging in dissipating 
amusements. 



166 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Being at a coffee-house one evening, John 
Wesley became the subject of remark. His 
fame had then reached every comer of the 
great metropolis, and spread far and wide over 
the country. Madan's companions, knowing 
his power of imitation and ridicule, proposed 
that he go and hear Wesley, who was preach- 
ing in the vicinity, and return and exhibit to 
them his manner and discourse for their amuse- 
ment. 

To this Madan agreed. As he entered the 
place of worship, Wesley named his text: 
'^Pre^pare to meet thy GodP Pausing solemnly, 
he looked round upon his hearers. The mocker 
felt that the preacher knew his very thoughts, 
and the wicked purpose for which he had come. 
Wesley proceeded to present eternal truth so 
earnestly and so sincerely, and in so attractive 
a manner, that Madan was not only interested, 
but deeply awakened. 

" Have you taken the old Methodist off?" 
inquired his companions as he returned. " IS'o," 
was the serious reply, " but he has taken me off." 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 157 

From that time he sought the society of the 
leaders of Methodism. He became a clergy- 
man, the intimate friend of Lady Huntingdon, 
and a helper in the work which she and the 
Wesleys, and their noble band, were carrying 
forward. Though the brother of a bishop, he 
did not seek honors in the Church. Though 
rich, he labored to save men in the daily work 
of a pastor and preacher. His personal ap- 
pearance and natural powers of eloquence were 
exceedingly attractive. For many years he 
was a light of great brilliancy in the Church of 
God. 

It would have been strange if, thus surround- 
ed with friends in toil and holy living of the 
sterner sex, Lady Huntingdon should have 
found no female laborer with her spirit, and 
somewhat of her abilities and influence. Such 
a one was Lady Wilhelmina Maxwell Glenor- 
chy, of Scotland. Some time in the year 1765, 
being about twenty-three years of age, she 
made, with Lord Glenorchy, a tour on the conti- 
nent of Europe. When returning they tarried 



158 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

in the vicinity of the residence of Sir Rowland 
Hill. His daughter, Miss Hill, near the age of 
Lady Glenorchy, a young woman of refine'd 
education and great talents, was deeply and 
actively pious. An intimate friendship was 
formed between them, and the Scotch noble- 
woman became an humble Christian. Her life 
had been spent in gayety, amid wealth and 
aristocracy. Her conversion filled many of her 
friends, especially her husband, with sorrow 
and resentment. She was hurried away from 
her Christian associates to new scenes of 
worldly amusements ; flattery and unkind au- 
thority were tried in vain to shake her pious 
purpose. She sought and obtained the friend- 
ship and counsel of the leading Methodist re- 
formers, and shared with them their labors and 
reproach. She ultimately became a prominent 
co-laborer with Lady Huntingdon in all her 
enterprises. 

Her personal beauty and endowments of 
mind are said to have been remarkable, and the 
wealth, of which she had control, was ample. 



DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS. 159 

She was the Lady Huntingdon of Scotland, 
building chapels, supporting preachers, and 
suffering reproach for Christ. 

Such were- some of the distinguished friends 
of our elect lady, whose labors with them we 
will further follow in the next chapter. 



160 LADY HUNTINGDON POETEAYED. 



CHAPTEE YII. 

ITINEEANT LABOES. 

We have thus far presented to the view of 
the reader the means with which, under God, 
an active and sanctified mind, like Lady Hunt- 
ingdon's, might exert an extended influence for 
good. Education, position, wealth, a circle of 
congenial spirits lately brought to God, and 
almost daily companionship with some of the 
most able and faithful ministers of her times, 
all together afforded an opportunity for useful- 
ness on the grandest scale. How well she 
improved it, we shall endeavor to show. 

It is with propriety that we speak of the itin- 
erant labors of Lady Huntingdon. She traveled 
extensively with those who occupied the sacred 
desk, being often the instrument of their suc- 
cess. And, as will be seen, not only traveled 
with them, but organized an itinerancy by 



ITINERANT LABORS. 161 

which efficiency was given to their preach- 
ing. 

• As early as 1755 the countess invited all the 
clergymen who had caught the spirit of the 
reformation, to meet at her residence. A few 
of the most earnest came. The next year she 
called another meeting, which was more fully 
attended, and partook much of the spirit of 
Wesley's conferences. At these gatherings 
much time was spent in prayer, and sermons 
were preached to multitudes, which the pres- 
ence of so many eminent and zealous minis- 
ters attracted. But the special object of 
these conferences was, to consult concerning 
the continuance and spread of God's work, 
which had so well begun. The countess, as she 
had called, so she seems to have been the 
ruling spirit of these meetings. In 1762 her 
nineteenth conference assembled at Leeds, so 
that it appears they were not annual, but fre- 
quent, as occasion required. At this meeting 
John and Charles Wesley, Mr. Whitefield, 
Venn, Romaine, Madan, with others, each of 



162 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

whom was of himself ''a standard bearer," 
were present. Great grace rested, upon them, 
and they each, at its close, went forth to the 
chosen field to gather fresh trophies for the 
Redeemer. Lady Huntingdon made a wide 
circuit, visiting a little struggling society here, 
and encouraging there a clergyman who was 
ready to faint by extraordinary difiiculties. 

It will be remembered that, in the earlier 
part of our narrative, we noticed Lady Hunt- 
ingdon's connection with lay preaching. She 
approved and encouraged it. Many lay preach- 
ers looked to her to direct as well as author- 
ize their labors. Her talents, piety, and position 
led even many of the zealous clergy to submit 
to, perhaps we ought to say, to seeh her guid- 
ance in their labors, in the immediate work 
of the reformation. At these conferences, and 
at other times. Providence seemed, therefore, 
to assign her the duty of directing them to 
their circuits and stations. A regular ex- 
change of preachers, once in six or eight weehs, 
by her sole appointment, was adopted. She 



ITINERANT LABORS. 163 

also appointed the lay managers of the local 
affairs of the society. Those so stationed were 
called "Lady Huntingdon's preachers," and 
the " connection " so formed, " Lady Hunting- 
don's Connection." 

Though her people were less efficiently 
organized, she held to them much the same 
relation that Wesley did to his. Her authority 
was considered parental and decisive. The 
purity of her motives being never doubted, and 
the general soundness of her judgment trusted, 
the preachers went at her bidding, feeling 
that the Great Head of the Church guided 
them through her. After having obtained 
thus the directing of a considerable number 
of preachers, she conceived the idea of "can- 
vassing" the whole of England for Christ. 
Her plan was to divide the kingdom into six 
circuits, and appoint six eminent revivalists 
to each one, directing them to preach in every 
city, town, and considerable village, where 
such laborers were not already preaching. 
This she accomplished, again and again. To 



164 LADY HUKTINGDON POKTEAYED. 

defray the expense, she sent a circular to all 
her societies, requesting collections, pa^dng of 
it herself two hundred and fifty dollars. W^ 
understand that she determined the amount, 
which was of course small, of the salary of 
her preachers generally, guaranteeing their 
payment, or at least seeing that it was done. 
To do this, she drew generously upon her 
own resources, solicited the help of her noble 
friends, and rendered systematic the annual 
collections of her connection. The clerical 
friends whom we have introduced to the 
reader, whose legal incomes allowed it, gave 
freely their services. 

But we will return to the six "canvassers" 
of the kingdom. A passing notice of the 
report they from time to time made of their 
progress, will afibrd a general idea of their 
labors, their spirit, and their success. 

One says: "A table is my pulpit, the can- 
opy of the heavens my sounding board." "The 
crowds attracted by these means were truly 
astonishing. At Darlaston, we had at least 



ITINERANT LABORS. 165 

fifteen hundred poor colliers and nailers." " In 
the streets of Dudley the congregation was 
computed to be two thousand. In the even- 
ing, at the Market Cross, there were not 
less, at a moderate computation, than five 
thousand." 

Another writes: "At Bosveal not less than 
ten thousand assembled in a large, deep hollow 
ground, rendered convenient for the preachers 
and hearers by circular benches cut out of 
the sides from top to bottom. A universal 
solemnity and awe sat on every countenance, 
and the Lord was in the midst of us. Even 
the people of the world were reminded of the 
judgment day, from beholding this innumerable 
and deeply affected assembly." "Many were 
affected under the word, some appeared to be 
broken down, all were very solemn, and many 
much affected, particularly^ some drunkards." 

The foundation was laid, in many places, 
by these itinerants, of new societies, which 
were watered by the Holy Spirit, and grew 
into permanent churches. Pious but lukewarm 



166 LADY HUNTINGDOK PORTRAYED. 

parisli ministers were excited to activity, and 
the ungodly clergy and men of the world 
provoked to revile and persecute. Yet gen- 
erally they were hailed as messengers of God, 
and returned rejoicing that their preaching 
was not in vain in the Lord. 

In 1Y5T, Lady Huntingdon, knowing Mr. 
Madan's popular gifts, and great success in 
awakening sinners, sent him out under her 
patronage, on a general tour. He traveled 
through six counties, accompanied, at times, 
by Mr. Komaine. Everywhere crowds at- 
tended his ministry, and great awakening 
followed. 

We will now present to the reader a view 
of the several more prominent places upon 
which Lady Huntingdon bestowed liberally 
her wealth, and largely her labor and watch- 
care. London is the first point of interest. 
"When Whitefield erected his first rude taber- 
nacle at Moorfields, it was, in part, by her 
liberality ; and when it gave way to a second 
and more substantial building, he leaned much 



ITINERANT LABORS. 167 

upon her counsels and contributions. Indeed, 
the enterprise originated with Lady Hunt- 
ingdon. She writes : " I am much interested 
about the intended building, and trust it will 
be for the glory of our common Lord, and the 
increase of his kingdom among men. O that 
very many precious souls may be there awak- 
ened, renewed, pardoned, and consecrated to 
God." She appealed to her wealthy friends, 
while Whitefield received the contributions 
of his congregations. Six thousand dollars 
were soon collected, with which the work was 
begun. 

"While the heathenism of Moorfields was 
being enlightened by the preaching at " the 
Foundry" of "Wesley, and at the new Taber- 
nacle of Whitefield, the ""West End" of Lon- 
don was claiming the attention of the reformers. 

"Whitefield had been sadly persecuted there, 
and driven from his place of worship by vio- 
lence. Out of the opposition, by God's bless- 
ing, grew the '-^Tottenham Court Chajpel^'' dedi- 
cated about three years after the " new Taber- 



168 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

nacle," namely, 1756, and became, like that, 
famons for the eloquent and successful minis- 
trations of its founder. He says, in writing 
of its completion: "A neighboring doctor 
calls it 'WhitefielcPs soul-tra^.^ I pray the 
Friend of sinners to make it a soul-trap 
indeed to many wandering creatures. "We 
have already had some glbrious earnests of 
future blessings. Convictions and conversions 
go on here. Last Sunday there was a wonder- 
ful stirring among the dry bones; some great 
people came and begged they might have a 
constant seat." 

Among others who came was a young man 
who had left pious parents in the country to 
do business in the great Metropolis, and its 
allurements had overthrown his principles. 
He came to the Chapel with others, " to take 
off" the famous Methodist and to disturb the 
meeting. But the sermon and the associations 
of the place brought to his recollection, with 
convicting force, his home instructions. He 
became pious, was educated by Lady Hunt- 



ITINERANT LABORS. 169 

ingdon, and long labored as a successful min- 
ister. We give the above as an instance of 
the fruit of the labors at this Chapel. 

So much had the countess done toward the 
erection of Tottenham Court Chapel, and so 
deeply interested was she in it, that White- 
field proposed to transfer his control of it to 
her. But the offer was not accepted. It 
remained in the Whitefield connection until 
1828, when, his seventy-two years' lease having 
run out, the trustees purchased the freehold, and 
thoroughly repaired it. It was re-consecrated 
to God in 1831, by the venerable William 
Jay. Thus the seed sown one hundred years 
before our present writing, still bears fruit. 

Until the year 1770, Lady Huntingdon had 
confined her eflforts to supply the needy in 
London with places of worship, to the opening 
of her own residences, and inducing other 
noble women to open theirs for the preaching 
of the gospel, and to the assistance she had 
rendered others in building chapels. 

She began now to secure chapels almost 
11 



170 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

entirely at her own expense, and whicli were 
therefore under her control. The first of these 
was in Ewen Street. It had been occupied 
by the Quakers, but under the countess's man- 
agement a large and permanent congregation 
of her connection was gathered. About two 
years later a large and commodious meeting- 
house in the heart of "Westminster became 
vacant. It would seat three thousand people. 
This she purchased and repaired, and appointed 
to its pulpit her most able and eloquent co- 
laborers. To it gathered multitudes of souls, 
and many were converted. 

The Mulberry Gardens Chapel was the next 
in order, built at Wapping, (in London,) and 
dedicated in 1Y76. Its walls went up amid 
some misunderstandings among its friends, and 
not until the countess's patience in well-doing 
had well been tried did she secure it fully to her 
control, and see in it the work of God prosper- 
ing. But God, in the end, greatly blessed 
this house too, which she had builded for him. 

From London she turned her attention to 



ITINERANT LABORS. 171 

Brighton. It is a fashionable bathing place, 
seaport, and market town. It is situated in 
Sussex county, fifty-two miles south from Lon- 
don. For its importance as a watering place, 
it has largely been indebted to the patronage of 
the royal family. About the time Lady Hunt- 
ingdon began her public labors, the Prince 
of Wales made Brighton his favorite place of 
residence. 

The illness of her son Henry, of whose death 
we have spoken, caused the countess to remove 
to this place about 1756. Ever watchful for 
occasions of usefulness, she sought the houses 
of the poor and destitute. The case of a sol- 
dier's sick wife, and her infant twins, excited 
her especial sympathy. After relieving her 
temporal wants, she entered into serious and 
earnest conversation with her concerning the 
interests of her soul. The woman was affected 
to tears. During her ladyship's repeated vis- 
its, the people coming to the public bake- 
house, from which the poor woman's room was 
separated by only a narrow partition, heard her 



172 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

religious conversation. This being rumored 
abroad, not only the bake-house, but the sol- 
diers' rooms, became crowded with poor females 
desiring to hear such truth. Unexpectedly, the 
countess found herself the ce^nter of the interest 
of quite a congregation of serious persons, ask- 
ing what they should do to be saved. She met 
them regularly at the sick-bed of the dying 
mother, and read and expounded portions of 
Scripture, and pointed out to them the way of 
eternal life. 

On one of these occasions a blacksmith, a 
notoriously wicked man, came and took his seat 
stealthily in one corner of the room. ISTone but 
females had been admitted before. At first the 
countess doubted the propriety of permitting 
him to remain, but, after a little hesitation, 
proceeded, taking no notice of him. He list- 
ened attentively, was awakened by what he 
heard, became a holy man, and for twenty-nine 
years eminently adorned a Christian profession, 
and died in great triumph. 

While thus imitating her Master in doing 



ITINERANT LABORS. 173 

good, Ladj Huntingdon was one day accosted 
in the streets of Brighton by a lady of genteel 
appearance and courteous manners, with the 
exclamation, " O, madam, you are come !" 

Surprised at such an address, Lady Hunting- 
don inquired her meaning. 

" Madam," replied the lady, with serious 
earnestness, " I dreamed three years ago that a 
tall lady, whose dress was distinctly impressed 
upon my mind, would come to this place and 
do much good. The impressions of that dream 
I have never been able to dismiss ; the lady of 
my dream appeared precisely as you do now.^^ 

The ladies thus singularly introduced be- 
came intimately acquainted. The stranger was 
converted through Lady Huntingdon's instru- 
mentality, and died, in one year from their first 
meeting, in great peace. 

Though the visits of Lady Huntingdon to 
Brighton were only occasional, the encourage- 
ment she received, by the blessing of God upon 
her labors, induced her, in 1761, to erect a 
small but neat chapel near her residence. Mr. 



174 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Madan opened it with appropriate services, and 
first officiated as its pastor. During the season 
of the resort of the great and fashionable to" 
Brighton, Lady Huntingdon called to her aid 
her most distinguished friends. Romaine, Ber- 
ridge, Yenn, and Fletcher came in turn. On 
one occasion she had earnestly entreated, by 
letter, the services of Berridge, to which he 
sent the following very Berridge-like reply : 

*' I cannot see my call to Brighton ; and I 
ought to see it for myself, and not another 
for me. Was any good done when I was 
there ? It was God's doing ; all the glory be to 
him. This shows I did not then go without my 
Master, but it is no proof of a second call. 
Many single calls have I had to villages when 
some good was done, but no further call. I am 
not well able to ride so long a journey, and my 
heart is utterly set against wheel-carriages in 
these roads. Indeed, I see not my call ; I can- 
not think of the journey ; and therefore I pray 
your ladyship to think no more of it. I write 
thus plainly, not out of frowardness, I trustj 



ITINERANT LABORS. 175 

bnt to save your ladyship the trouble of sending 
the second request, and myself the pain of 
returning a second denial. You threaten me, 
madam, like a pope, not like a mother in Is- 
rael, when you declare roundly that God will 
scourge me if 1 do not come. But I know your 
ladyship's good meaning, and this menace was 
not despised. It made me slow in resolving, 
and, of course, slow in writing ; it made me 
also attend to the state of my own mind during 
its deliberations, which was as follows : While 
I was looking toward the sea, partly drawn 
thither by the hope of doing good, and partly 
driven by your Vatican BuU^ I found nothing 
but thorns in my way ; but as soon as I turned 
my eyes from it, I found peace. And now, 
while I am sending a peremptory denial, I feel 
no check or reproof within, which I generally 
do when I am not willing to go about my Mas- 
ter's business." 

So successful was the preaching of the gospel 
in Lady Huntingdon's chapel at Brighton, that 
it was first enlarged, and subsequently rebuilt, 



176 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

in her lifetime. The second house has been 
enlarged in our own day, and now stands a 
monument of her zealous and successful labors.* 

The success of Lady Huntingdon's efforts 
at Brighton, naturally led her to watch the 
openings of Providence for other positions for 
the location of chapels. The wilds of the 
county of Sussex, in the south of England, 
had long seemed to her to invite gospel labor. 
While thus looking and waiting for the effect- 
ual door to be opened there, the mansion of 
Oathall, in that county, was offered her on 
a lease by its owner.* 

This offer was instantly and joyfully ac- 
cepted. Its large hall was neatly fitted and 
furnished for a chapel, and its upper rooms 
for the residence of the countess, the home, 
while supplying the pulpit, of the preachers. 
Here the neglected poor, especially, of the 
surrounding country, gladly assembled to hear 
the word of life from the lips of eloquent and 

^ A recent proprietor had emigrated to America, and be- 
came the Governor of the colony of Massachusetts Bay. 



ITINERANT LABORS. 177 

holy men. Two illustrations of the effect, 
tinder God, of the labors at this place, will 
interest the readers, and cause them to remem- 
ber Oathall. 

Soon after the countess removed there, Cap- 
tain Scott of the army was quartered, with 
his command, in the neighborhood. He be- 
longed to a distinguished family, and had him- 
self gained some military "glory" in battle. 
His jDrospects of attaining fame and an emi- 
nent position in his profession, were consid- 
ered good. One day, being out on a shoot- 
ing party, he was caught in a violent rain, 
and sought shelter in a farmer's residence. 
The humble host entertained his guest with 
religious conversation. His remarks were so 
touching and heartfelt, and his familiarity with 
the things of God so apparent, that the cap- 
tain was at once interested. He inquired 
where he had learned these things. "There," 
said the farmer, pointing to the mansion of 
Oathall, " and a great man is now preaching 
there. Please, sir, go and hear him." 



178 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

The advice was taken, and the warrior soon 
became an humble soldier of the cross. From 
laboring privately he almost immediately be- 
gan to preach publicly. His gifts as well as 
grace were great, and as his regiment itiner- 
ated, he gathered about him large and deeply 
interested congregations, to hear of the salva- 
tion of which his own heart had become a 
recent partaker. 

Fletcher thus speaks of him in a letter to 
the countess: "I went last Monday to meet 
Captain Scott, one of the first-fruits that have 
grown for the Lord at Oathall, a captain of 
the truth, a bold soldier of Jesus Christ. God 
has thrown down before him the middle wall 
of bigotry, and he boldly launches into an 
irreo;ular usefulness. For some months he 
has exhorted his dragoons daily; for some 
weeks he has preached publicly at Leicester 
in the Methodist meeting house, in his regi- 
mentals, to numerous congregations, with suc- 
cess. The stiff regular ones pursue him with 
hue and cry, but I believe he is quite beyond 



ITINERANT LABORS. 179 

their reach. God keeps him zealous and sim- 
ple? I believe this red coat will shame many 
a Mack one. I am sure he shames me." 

"Whitefield told the story, in his Tabernacle 
pulpit, of Captain Scott's conversion and labors, 
and added : "I have invited the captain to 
come to London, and bring his artillery to Tab- 
ernacle rampart, and try what execution he 
can do here." 

After a while the captain left the army and 
gave himself wholly to the work of the minis- 
try, in which he was eminently popular and 
useful. He was one of the supplies of the 
" Tabernacle " for twenty years. 

The other example of the power of Divine 
grace, in this place, is still more remarkable. 
An old soldier by the name of Abraham, who 
had retired from the army, was living in the 
neighborhood. He was now one hundred years 
old^ and the Spirit of God awakened him to 
a concern for his eternal salvation. He wan- 
dered about from church to church, desiring 
to learn what he should do to be saved. Being 



180 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

prejudiced against the "Methodists," he for 
some time, avoided Oathall ChapeL But not 
finding what he sought elsewliere, he was 
constrained to go and hear Mr. Yenn, who was 
to preach that morning. He listened, and his 
awakened mind received the word with joy. 
As soon as the service was ended, he exclaimed 
to a friend, with much emotion : " Ah, neigh- 
bor, this is the very truth of God's word which 
I have been seeking ; I never heard it so plain 
before. Here will I abide." He soon found 
peace in believing. He walked humbly with 
God, often remarking, " I am a child born 
at a hundred years old." His age and white 
head made him a distinguished object in 
the house of God, where he was a constant 
attendant. 

Abraham had his trials in the divine life. 
His wife opposed him " a bit." But one day a 
terrible tempest came down upon their humble 
dwelling, and the poor woman, thinking the 
day of judgment had come, fell upon her 
knees, exclaiming, " O, Abraham, pray for me ! 



ITINERANT LABORS 181 

ar'n't you afraid? it's the day of judgment !" 
" Afraid ?" replied xibraham, ^' no ; if it is the 
day of judgment, then I now shall see my 
Lord !" and his rapturous feelings burst forth in 
a hymn of praise. Abraham died in the 
hundred and sixth year of his age ; " a brand 
plucked from the fire." 

On one occasion the countess wrote a press- 
ing note to Mr. Berridge, to leave his parish and 
supply for a time at Oathall and some of her 
other chapels. To this invitation he returned a 
refusal in the following original, eccentric, and 
certainly very impressive manner. It exhibits 
the genius of the man more than a labored 
chapter of description : "As for myself, I am 
determined not to quit my charge in a hurry. 
!N"ever do I leave my bees, though for a short 
space only, but at my return I find them either 
cutting and colting, or fighting and robbing 
each other ; not gathering honey from every 
flower in God's garden, but filling the air with 
their buzzings, and darting out the venom of 
their little hearts in their fiery stings. Nay, so 



182 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

inflamed they often are, (and a mighty little 
thing disturbs them,) that three months tinkling 
afterward with a warming pan, will scarce 
hive them at last, and make them settle to 
work again. They are now in a mighty fer- 
ment, occasioned by a Welsh Dyer^^ who has 
done me the same kind office at Everton that 
he has done my friend at Tottenham. 'Tis a 
pity he should have the charge of anything but 
wasjps / these he might allure into the treacle 
pot, and step in before them himself, but he 
will never fill a hive with honey." 

Tunlridge Wells, a village of the town of 
Tunbridge, about thirty miles from London, 
was one of the next scenes of Lady Hunting- 
don's benevolent labors. The springs of Tun- 
bridge "Wells being famous for their health- 
restoring qualities, it was the resort, from April 
to ]!s"ovember, of not only the sick, but of the 
fashionable and worldly. The permanent in- 
habitants were notorious for their ignorance 
and irreligion. The Sabbath was openly pro- 

'^ Rev. G. Dyer. 



ITINERANT LABORS. 183 

faned, and other outbreaking sins abounded. 
Mr. "Wesley had, at times, visited it with his 
stirring appeals. During a short residence 
there, Lady Huntingdon was visited by two 
young men, who were preparing for the min- 
istry, but had never preached publicly. Being 
pressed with a desire to do the people good, her 
ladyship, without mentioning the fact to the 
young men, sent round a messenger to tell the 
people that on such an evening there would be 
preaching in front of her residence. When the 
time came, a multitude assembled. The young 
men inquired what it meant. " Why," answered 
the countess, " having two preachers with me, 
I have made an appointment for preaching, 
and one of you must preach." They began to 
excuse themselves, but she put a Bible into the 
hands of the one whom she knew to be a ready 
speaker, and pleasantly thrust him out of the 
door, saying : " Go, do the best you can, or tell 
the people you are afraid to trust God for a 
message. Go ; the Lord be with you ; do the 
best you can." 



184 LADY hu:ntingdon portrayed. 

Encouraged by the success God gave his 
word, her ladyship sent for more experienced 
laborers. Mr. Yenn came, and she encouraged 
him to commence his efforts by a sermon in the 
open air, instead of occupying the Presbyterian 
church, which had been used by Mr. Wesley. 
While the speaker was urging the invitation, 
" Come unto me all ye that are weary and 
heavy laden," one of his hearers dropped down 
and instantly expired. Tlie preacher and the 
people were greatly moved by this solemn vis- 
itation from God. Many seemed resolved to 
flee the wrath to come, and lingered around the 
place of worship after the service closed. So 
intense was the feeling that it was renewed 
again by words of exhortation, the Holy Ghost 
meeting many hearts. 

The erection of a chapel by the countess 
followed these tokens of the Divine favor, and 
Tunbridge Wells became " a regular appoint- 
ment for her itinerants, where many souls were 
from time to time ' added to the Lord.' " 

Bath, in Somersetshire, on the banks of the 



ITINEKANT LABORS. 185 

Avon, one hundred and -^ye miles from Lon- 
don, is one of the places of resort, during the 
summer, months, of the rich and gay. Here, 
also, the sick came to drink its healing waters. 
In the middle of the last century its people 
were almost wholly given up to the allurements 
of sin. Those who sought pleasure here, re- 
garded a worldly religion only, and the poor 
could well say, " 'No man careth for our souls." 

For twenty-five years Lady Huntingdon had 
been visiting and sowing precious seed in Bath, 
in her private intercourse with the people. Li 
1765 she erected a moderate sized chapel, 
but beautiful in architecture and furnishing. 
Some of its accommodations seem, to our views 
of propriety in the house of God, very strange, 
but we must remember how different were the 
people and their customs at that time, from 
what they are now. 

This chapel had elevated seats apart from the 
rest of the congregation, for the ladies of no- 
bility. Behind a curtain, and concealed from 
the view of the audience, were other seats. 
12 



186 LADY HUNTINGDON FORTKAYED. 

These were occupied by the great^ whose curi- 
osity led them to the chapel, but who did not 
wish to be seen there. Here they could hear^ 
and avoid the reproach which they might have 
incurred in being seen in what was commonly 
called the " Methodist" meeting. Behind this 
curtain some of the hishojps often sat. 

A witty lady of the nobility, who was active 
in introducing their lordships to the chapel in 
this sly manner, called it "Nicodemus cor- 
ner." 

But large numbers of the aristocracy openly 
attended upon the heart-searching preaching of 
this chapel. The "mighty men of God" gen- 
erally occupied the pulpit. Charles Wesley, 
Whitefield, Yenn, and Madan were frequently 
here. Fletcher won some of his freshest lau- 
rels for his eloquent and soul-saving appeals 
within its walls. 

John "Wesley having offered to supply for a 
time at Bath, Lady Huntingdon thus replies, in 
a letter dated September, 1Y66 : 

"I am most highly obliged by your kind 



ITINERANT LABORS. 187 

offer of serving the chapel at Bath during your 
stay at Bristol; I mean on Sundays. It is a 
most important time, being the height of the 
latter season, when the great of this world are 
only in the reach of the sound of the Gospel 
from that quarter. The mornings are their 
time, the evenings the inhabitants' time chiefly. 
I do trust that this union which is commenced, 
will be for the furtherance of our faith and 
mutual love to each other. It is for the inter- 
est of the best of causes that we should all be 
found, first faithful to the Lord, and then to 
each other. I find something wanting, and that 
is a meeting now and then, agreed upon, that 
you, your brother, Mr. Whitefield, and I should 
be glad regularly to communicate our observ- 
ations upon the general state of the work. 
Light might follow, and it would be a kind of 
guide to me, as I am connected with many. " 

Horace Walpole, who heard Wesley preach 
in the Huntingdon Chapel at Bath at this time, 
says: "They have boys and girls with charming 
voices, who sing hymns. The chapel is very 



188 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

neat, with true Gothic windows. . . . "Wesley is 
a clean, elderly man, fresh colored, his hair 
smoothly combed. He is wondrons clever." 
Wesley himself, speaking of his preaching here, 
says : " I know not when I have seen a more 
serious or more deeply attentive congregation. 
Is it possible? Can the Gospel have place 
where Satan's throne is?" In the hearts of 
many it found a welcome place. 

Though often enlarged and beautified, this 
chapel still remains, and has ever been hon- 
ored of God. 

The history of Methodism in Bristol was al- 
luded to in the early part of our narrative. 
Here Whitefield and Wesley began to preach 
in the fields. In this place each had flourish- 
ing societies at an early period of their career. 
Whitefield's Bristol " Tabernacle," at the time 
of his death, was crowded with serious wor- 
shipers. A few years later, in 1Y75, Lady 
Huntingdon looked around for a house for an- 
other congregation. In a distant part of the 
town a large assembly-room was found, then 



ITINERANT LABORS. 189 

used occasionally as a theater. This she leased 
for $200 a year, and fitted it for preaching 
by expending $4,000. Upon this new " taber- 
nacle" the pillar of the Divine presence rested. 
Under its fostering influence some distinguish- 
ed lay jpreachers were raised up to bless the 
Church. 

From the assembly-room of Bristol, Lady 
Huntingdon turned her attention to a spacious 
theater of the great city of Birmingham. 
Some of her young men had been preaching in 
a less conspicuous place, and a small chapel had 
been built. She purchased the play-house, and 
appointed to it the Eev. Mr. Bradford, whose 
faithful preaching had just caused the churches 
to be shut against him. He was very popular, 
and great crowds attended. His appearance 
" on the stage" is thus described : 

" When the play-house was first purchased 
by Lady Huntingdon, a pulpit was erected 
upon the part of the stage in which Mr. Brad- 
ford used to preach. The people went into the 
boxes, pit, and gallery to hear him, and also 



190 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

upon the stage. It was generally full, some- 
times crowded. The people heard with great 
attention, and when anything was spoken by 
Mr. Bradford which they approved, they imme- 
diately clapped hands for a short time, as at a 
play. Mr. Bradford held his peace till they 
had done, and then proceeded as calmly as if 
nothing had happened. This was repeated sev- 
eral times during the discourse. This practice 
continued a short time, until the people became 
more serious, and the place was properly 
changed into a meeting-house." 

We have thus glanced at some of the larger 
and most important of the chapels of the count- 
ess. Many others, where great good was done, 
were scattered over England. We shall notice 
nnder a distinct head her lafer and boldest en- 
terprises in London. 

But it must be remembered that she sustained 
preaching in many destitute places, not fur- 
nished with permanent houses of worship. Like 
a skillful general, she annoyed the enemy by 
her soldiers, wherever and whenever she could. 



ITINERANT LABORS. 191 

The chapels we have named were centers from 
which went forth a wide-spread Gospel influ- 
ence, to awaken and convert the people. 

We shall next glance at this eminent and 
God-honored woman from another point of 
observation. 



1^2 LADY HUNTIJSraDON PORTRAYED 



CHAPTEK Yin. 

THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 

Foe about thirty years Lady Huntingdon had 
been laboring to save souls. We have seen 
her the proprietor of a large number of chap- 
els, and the director, in the providence of God, 
of many Gospel ministers As her Connection 
extended, and the cry of " irregularity" increas- 
ed, the settled clergy became less willing to" 
supply the urgent demand for ministers. A 
few, such as we have introduced to the reader, 
were ready, both in good and evil report, to 
preach whenever a door of usefulness opened ; 
but what were they to the abundance of the 
harvest! Some lay preachers and exhorters 
had been employed from the first, but now, as 
the wants of the work called them into wider 
and more responsible fields, some provision for 
their education was deemed necessary. 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PKOPHETS. 193 

During the year 1767 the countess had re- 
solved on a plan for a college for this purpose. 
She consulted "Wesley, Fletcher, Romaine, and 
others, who approved of the project. All 
agreed that no student should be received who 
did not give good evidence of conversion, and a 
call by the Holy Ghost to the ministry, and 
that, while such might remain three years to 
complete the course of study, they should be at 
liberty to go out any time, as their convictions 
of duty, under the guidance of Providence, 
should dictate. It was further provided, that 
when they left the college they should join any 
evangelical Protestant ministry which they 
should choose. 

Having thus conceived the plan, the location 
and pecuniary means became subjects of in- 
quiry. To answer the question concerning a 
location, the attention of her ladyship was im- 
mediately turned toward "Wales. To appreci- 
ate the reason for this, it will be necessary to 
pause for a moment, and notice the interesting 
circumstances of her early acquaintance with 



194 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 

the spiritual wants of that conntiy, and her 
labors for it. 

In 174:8 she made a three weeks' tour 
through "Wales, with Lady Ann and Lady 
Frances Hastings, accompanied by several of 
her preachers. They halted in every consider- 
able town and village, and the ministers of their 
itinerating party collected together large con- 
gregations of attentive hearers. When access 
was given to the churches or public houses, 
they were thankfully used ; but when these 
were denied, or were too small for the mul- 
titude, they turned to the street and fields. 
Having reached South Wales, they tarried sev- 
eral days at Trevecca. While there they had 
preaching four or five times a day to immense 
multitudes gathered from all the adjacent 
country. 

On one occasion the preacher was dwelling 
upon the text, " What shall I cry ?" when loud 
and bitter cries were uttered in every part of 
the congregation. 

Lady Huntingdon, after the sermon was 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 195 

ended, conversed with as many as possible of 
these awakened persons. She rejoiced to find 
evidence that the outcry arose from genuine 
conviction for sin. The general expression was, 
^' I see my guilt before God so clearly, and feel 
it to be so great, that I am afraid there can be 
no mercy." 

" It was remarkable," wrote Lady Frances, 
"that as sinners were under a most distressing 
sense of their guilt, so the people of God were 
sensibly refreshed and comforted. Their souls 
magnified the Lord, and rejoiced in God their 
Saviour." 

On returning to England Lady Huntingdon 
makes the following record of her emotions: 
" On a review of all I have seen and heard 
within the last few weeks, I am constrained 
to exclaim: 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 
all that is within me, bless his holy name.' 
The sermons were in general lively and awak- 
ening, containing the most solemn and awful 
truths; such as the utter ruin of man by the 
fall, and his redemption and recovery by Jesus 



196 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 

Christ, the energetic declaration of which pro- 
duced great and visible effects in many. I 
inquired the meaning of the outcry which 
sometimes spread through the congregation, 
and when informed that it arose from a deep 
conviction for sin, working powerfully on the 
awakened conscience, I could not but acknowl- 
edge, ' This is the LorWs doing ^ cmd it is 
marmlous in our eyesP'^ The field thus effect- 
ually opened in Wales, was successfully culti- 
vated up to the period of the projected Theo- 
logical School. 

At Trevecca, in the parish of Talgarth, 
Brecknockshire, South Wales, where the word 
of God, in the preaching just alluded to, 
was wonderfully blessed, stood an ancient 
and venerable-looking structure. It was a 
part of an old castle. The tablet over the 
door bore the date of 1176. To purchase this 
and support the school. Lady Huntingdon 
exhausted all her pecuniary resources. A 
generous friend, Mr. Thornton, made two do- 
nations of twenty-five hundred dollars each. 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PKOPHETS. 197 

Lady Glenorcliy, Lady Chesterfield, and a few 
kindred spirits, combined their efforts and gave 
another -Q.Ye thousand dollars. 

Thns provided with the location, the build- 
ing, and the money, the countess wrote to 
Fletcher, among others, inclosing a plan of 
the terms of admission, etc., and requested him 
to recommend, if he had occasion, candidates 
from his parish. The reply is interesting, as 
it contains the early history of the Jirst student 
of the institution, and an illustration of the 
class of young men of which it was mostly 

composed. 

Madeley, N'ovemder 24^^, 1767. 

" My deae Lady, — I have received the pro- 
posal which your ladyship has drawn up for 
the examination of the young men who may 
appear proper candidates for the Trevecca 
academy, and gratefully acknowledge your 
kindness in allowing me to propose suitable 
subjects out of my parish. Our Israel is small, 
my lady, and if, among six hundred thousand, 
only two faithful men were found of old, the 



198 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Joshuas and Calebs cannot be numerous among 
us. After having perused the articles, and 
looked round about me, I designed to answer 
your ladyship, that out of this Galilee ariseth 
no jpwpliet. With this resolution I went to 
bed, but in my sleep was much taken up with 
the thought and remembrance of one of my 
young colliers, who told me some months ago, 
that for four years he had been inwardly per- 
suaded he should be called to speak for God. 
I looked upon the unusual impression of my 
dream as a call to speak to the young man, 
and at waking designed to do it at the first 
opportunity. To my great surprise, he came 
to Madeley that very morning, and I found, 
upon inquiry, that he had been as much drawn 
to come, as I to speak to him. After convers- 
ing with him, I was satisfied that I might 
venture to propose him to your ladj^ship for 
further examination. His name is James 
Gleazehooh^ collier and getter of iron-stone 
in Madeley woods. He is now twenty-three, 
by look nineteen. He has been awakened 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 199 

seven years. He has been steady from the 

beginning of his profession, at least so far as 

to be kept outwardly unblamable, but seemed 

to me to walk mostly in heaviness. What 

I told him was as oil put into a glimmering 

lamp, and he seemed to revive upon hearing 

of this little outward call. ITotwithstanding 

his strong desire to exhort, he never attempted 

it yet, and his not being forward to run of 

himself, makes me have the better hope his 

call is from God. He hath no mean gift in 

singing and prayer, his judgment and sense 

are superior to his station, and he does not 

seem to be discouraged by the severest part 

of your ladyship's proposals. 

"J. Fletchee." 

Having thus expressed his approbation of 
the plan of the school, and introduced into 
it the first student, Fletcher was invited to 
become its president, or head master. This 
he reluctantly consented to do. He continued 
to discharge all his duties to his parish at 
Madeley, and resided there most of the time. 



200 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

He visited Trevecca frequently, took the gen- 
eral directing of the course of study pursued, 
examined the candidates for admission, an5, 
more especially, excited in the students an 
earnest seeking for that elevated piety required 
of a minister of Christ. These duties added 
much to his labors and sacrifices; yet he did 
it without pecuniary reward. It was the will- 
ing offering of a deep interest in his younger 
brethren in the work of the gospel. 

The Eev. Joseph Easterbrooks was chosen 
assistant master. Of him Fletcher thus speaks : 
" He hath good parts, a most happy memory, and 
a zeal that would gladden your ladyship's heart. 
He has preached no less than four times to- 
day, and seems, indeed, in his own element 
when he is seeking after the lost sheep of the 
house of Israel. He is employed every even- 
ing in the week for the Lord. I give him th« 
more opportunity to exercise his talent, as it 
appears he does it far better than I. I beg 
two things for him: first, that it may hold; 
second, that he may be kept humble. He 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 201 

would, at first, live upon potatoes and water, 
but, finding it may impair Ms health, I have 
got him to table with me, and shall gladly pay 
his board." 

Thus far everything seemed to encourage the 
countess in this enterprise. Her friends and 
eminent co-laborers generally approved of it. 
But some feared its influence would not be 
favorable upon the simplicity and spiritual- 
ity of the youthful ministers. Her old friend, 
the vicar of Everton, sent her the following 
protest : 

" The soil you have chosen is proper. Welsh 
mountains afford a brisk air for a student, and 
the rules are excellent. But I doubt the suc- 
cess of the project, and fear it will occasion you 
more trouble than all your undertakings be- 
sides. Are we commanded to make laborers, 
or to pray the Lord to send laborers ? Will 
not Jesus choose, and teach, and send forth his 
ministering servants now, as he did his disci- 
ples aforetime ; and glean them up when and 
where he pleaseth ? The world says, No ; be- 
13 



202 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

cause they are strangers to a Divine commis- 
sion and a Divine teaching. And what if these 
asses blunder about the Master's meaning for a 
time, and mistake it often, as they did for- 
merly? No great harm will ensue, provided 
they are kept from paper and ink, or from a 
white wall and charcoal. Do you like to see 
tame lambs in a house and suckling with a 
finger, or to view them skipping after the dam 
in their own proper pasture? 

"We read of a school of prophets in Scrip- 
ture, but we do not read that it was of God's 
appointment. Elijah visited the school, which 
was at Bethel, and seems to have been fond of 
it ; yet the Lord commanded him to fetch a 
successor, not from the school, but, as the 
Romans fetched a dictator, from the plow. 
Are we told of a single preaohmg prophet that 
was taken out of this school ? or do we find any 
public employment given the scholars, except 
one, sending a light-heeled young man, when 
light heels were needful, with a horn of oil to 
anoint Jehu? (2 Kings ix.) That old prophet 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 203 

who told a sad lie to another prophet, was of 
this school, and might be the master of this 
college, for he was a gray- headed man. 
(1 Kings xiii, 11.) 

" While my heart is thus prattling to you 
very simply, like a child, it stands in no fear 
of offending you ; and if your project be right, 
the Master will keep you steadfast, and you will 
only smile at my prattling. Indeed, I am the 
most dubious man in the world about my own 
judgment, and will stickle for nothing, except 
to live and to trust in my Lord 

"John Beeridge." 

Students, however, flocked to the school, and 
the spirit of Scriptural holiness pervaded the in- 
stitution, under the promptings of the eminent 
Christian experience of their president. There 
seems to have been almost daily preaching, 
and multitudes attended upon the word, and 
were converted. The spirit of revival was 
unceasing. 

On the 24:th of August, 1769, the first anni- 
versary of the opening of the college was 



204 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

celebrated. As some of the eminent laborers 
of the Connection arrived at Trevecca several 
days previous to that time, they immediately 
commenced preaching in the court in front of 
the chapel. The concourse of people was im- 
mense. Many were awakened under the ser- 
mons, exhortations, and prayers. They were 
days of preparation for the feast of the twenty- 
fourth, a " protracted meeting" of great power. 
Early on the morning of the anniversary the 
Lord's Supper was administered in the chapel 
by Mr. Wesley and Mr. Shirley. The clergy- 
men first partook, then the students, afterward 
Lady Huntingdon and the noblewomen of her 
train. At ten o'clock Fletcher preached in 
the chapel court. Mr. Willing followed, 
preaching in Welsh, and continued the service 
until two o'clock. The clergymen then dined 
with Lady Huntingdon, and baskets of bread 
and meat were distributed to the crowd with- 
out, who waited for the still further breaking 
to them of the bread of life. At three o'clock 
Wesley preached, and Fletcher followed with 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 205 

another sermon, holding the deeply interested 
congregation until five o'clock. 

In the evening a love-feast was held. Howel 
Harris and many of his Welsh converts were 
present. The great and the lowly met together. 
The learned, but humble divine, and the pious, 
but unlearned exhorter, were of one spirit. 
The great theme of all was, " The grace of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, which bringeth salvation." 

On the following day Wesley set off for 
Bristol; but Fletcher, Shirley, and other 
preachers remained several days, preaching 
from the scaffold in the court, and promoting 
the work of God in public and private, which 
was going on so wonderfully among the people. 

In the spring of 17Y0, Joseph Benson, subse- 
quently a distinguished Wesleyan commenta- 
tor, was appointed head master of the Trevecca 
College, on a salary of about equal to one hun- 
dred and twenty-five dollars a year, with board 
and washing. He was recommended for this 
position by Wesley and Tletcher. He had, 
some years previous, been classical teacher of 



206 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTEAYED. 

Mr. Wesley's school at Kingswood. He was at 
once respected for his attainments, talents, and 
piety. But Fletcher, who visited the school 
frequently, was its Elijah. Mr. Benson records, 
in his after years, his recollection of these 
interviews in glowing lines. He says: "My 
heart kindles while I write. Here it was that 
I saw, shall I say, an angel in human flesh ? I 
should not far exceed the truth if I said so. 
But here I saw a descendant of fallen Adam so 
fully raised above the ruins of the fall, that 
though by the body he was tied down to the 
earth, yet was his whole conversation in 
heaven I yet was his life, from day to day, hid 
with Christ in God. Prayer, praise, love, and 
zeal, all ardent, elevated above what one would 
think attainable in this state of frailty, were 
the elements in which he continually lived. 
And as to others, his continual employment was 
to call, entreat, and urge the students to ascend 
with him to the glorious Sov/rce of being and 
blessedness." 

All study was laid aside when he appeared 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 207 

in the school-room. Latin and Greek had no 
attractions when he was present. Even the 
study of divinity became uninteresting, if he 
was expected to speak. His full heart would 
not suffer him to be silent, and his burning 
words commanded profound attention. The 
students seldom listened long to his appeals 
before their eyes were suffused with tears, and 
their hearts melted. His theme ever was, the 
fullness of the Holy Ghost in the heart of the 
believer. He would close these addresses in 
the school-room by saying : " As many of you 
as are athirst for this fullness of the Spirit fol- 
low me into my room." Generally, he would 
be followed by many. Two or three hours were 
then spent in wrestling prayer. The spirit of 
Fletcher, in the midst of these supplications, 
seemed too full of the love of God for his 
mortal frame. All would retire feeHng that 
they had been on the mount of God." 

In his private interviews with the students, 
and the families connected with the school, it 
is remarked that "his manner was so solemn, 



208 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTEAYED. 

and at the same time so mild and insinuating, 
that it was hardly possible for any one who had 
the happiness of being in his company not to 
be struck with awe, and charmed with love, as 
if in the presence of an angel." 

When unable to be present at Trevecca, on 
account of the duties of his parish, Fletcher 
wrote to the students in the same paternal and 
spiritual strain with which he addressed them 
when in their assembly room. 

A theological school, with such a head, could 
not easily become formal. A holy unction 
rested upon its preachers, as they were scat- 
tered over the three kingdoms, calling sinners 
to Christ. 

On the return of the anniversary of the col- 
lege, Trevecca was again made the favored 
place of numerous conversions. The public 
service began at six o'clock in the morning, 
with a prayer-meeting, followed by the admin- 
istration of the Lord's Supper. With but short 
intervals, it was continued until late in the 
evening. Among the preachers of the occasion 



THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS. 209 

was the warm-hearted Berridge. The godly 
simplicity which pervaded the school, and the 
success which attended the labors of its yonng 
men, had overcome his prejudices. It now re- 
ceived his cordial approval and support. 

From the time of the establishment of her 
" School of the Prophets," Lady Huntingdon 
had her principal residence at Trevecca. It 
continued, during her life, to flourish under her 
supervision and munificence. After her death 
it was removed to Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, 
England. Anticipating this event, she provided 
in her will for the removal of the furniture, 
library, and communion-plate, to that place. 
It was a new location, but the same institution 
in design and spirit. It remains to the present 
day " a school of the ^ojphetsP 



210 LADY HUNTINGDON POETRAYED. 



CHAPTER IX. 

HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 

The work of God in saving souls was now 
progressing gloriously. It had not only called 
forth the " mighty men of God" who stood in 
the front of the battle, and the younger men of 
less note who came from " the school of the 
prophets," but its necessities were continually 
thrusting valiant recruits into the same ranks, 
immediately from the common business of life. 
Thus the conflict with the kingdom of darkness 
was maintained vigorously, and victories gained 
on every side. The countess must now be 
viewed as fully established " as a standard- 
bearer," hastening, with the army God had 
placed under her command, to whatever posi- 
tion on the field of contest, the cause for which 
she contended seemed to require. 

It would have been strange if, while God's 



HATED FOR CHRISES SAKE. 211 

people were fighting so successfully, the devil 
should have provoked no opposition. If the 
world had not hated both them and their 
work, then would the servants have been 
above their Lord. But they fully learned that 
" to them it was given, in the behalf of Christ, 
not only to believe on him, but to suffer for his 
sake." Some of the evidence of this we shall 
briefly notice. 

The persecutions which "Whitefield and the 
Wesleys suffered are well known. We shall 
only allude to some instances which are more 
or less connected with the scenes of our narra- 
tive. We shall survey briefly the experience 
of the countess and her fellow-laborers, while 
in contact with the foes of Christ. Their patient 
endurance of reproach, and their love toward 
their enemies, will exhibit still more fully 
their Christian character, and be new occasion 
for our admiration and praise for the power of 
our holy religion. 

It might be expected that Lady Hunting- 
don's piety would first provoke to opposition 



212 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

the great of lier own circles. We should nat- 
urally expect that it would be manifest in a 
manner peculiar to the refinement of the per- 
secutors and the commanding position of 
the persecuted. The unsanctified heart is 
ever the same, but the form of its expres- 
sion differs. 

Soon after her conversion the countess was 
at Bath with her husband. Dr. Warburton, 
afterward the distinguished Bishop of Glouces- 
ter, was there, and was much in her company. 
He had learned that she was "tainted with 
Methodism," and with rudeness attacked her 
sentiments, and ridiculed her experience, stig- 
matizing her claim of a Divine witness of the 
Spirit upon the heart as " rank enthusiasm." 
He found in her a witness of this truth who was 
both able and willing to give " a reason of the 
hope that was in her." His opposition and un- 
concealed contempt for evangelical truth, only 
gave it more notoriety in the fashionable cir- 
cles of Bath, and, as we have seen, it prevail- 
ed mightily. 



HATED FOK CHRIST'S SAKE. 213 

After the countess had chosen the people of 
God for her associates, her absence from court 
was, of course, a subject of remark. "Where 
is Lady Huntingdon," inquired the Prince of 
Wales, on one occasion, of Lady Charlotte Ed- 
win, " that she seldom visits our circles?" 

" I suppose praying with her beggars," ex- 
claimed the lady of fashion, with a sneer. The 
prince did not, however, reciprocate this re- 
proach of his old acquaintance. He shook his 
head rej)rovingly, and remarked: "Lady Char- 
lotte, when I am dying, 1 think I shall be happy 
to seize the skirt of Lady Huntingdon's mantle 
to lift me up with her to heaven." 

Many such little annoyances did this good 
woman experience. But she was made glad 
by the conversion of many who at first re- 
viled her, among whom was this same Lady 
Edwin. 

The opposition from the lower class toward 
her assumed its usual form. She says : " Our 
affronts and persecutions for the word's sake 
are hardly to be described. . . . Many secret 



214 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

and shameful enemies of the Gospel, by God's 
will, appear. The particulars would amuse you, 
and, blessed be God, they rejoice me, as good 
must follow it. They call out in the open 
street for me, saying, if they had me they 
would tear me in pieces. But this does bnt 
prove that it is the Lord that offends them, and 
80 must he continue to the unregenerate 
heart." 

While this opposition was directed at her 
personally, the countess was silent and unmov- 
ed, except in pity and love toward her enemies. 
But when it assumed a form which threatened 
to embarrass the work of God, she was aroused 
to repel it by every Christian means. 

It will be remembered by some of our read- 
ers, that, in the middle of the last century, " the 
Pretender," as he was called, greatly disturbed 
the peace of England. He was the grandson 
of King James, and claimed a right to be King 
of England. He raised a small army, landed in 
Scotland, and endeavored to fight his way to 
the throne, He was a Eoman Catholic, and he 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 215 

and his family were greatly disliked by the 
English people. If, therefore, wicked persons 
wished to stir up the mob against any party or 
individual persons, they would, if possible, show 
that they were friends of the Pretender. They 
tried to do this often, by the most evident lies. 
Such representations, if believed, excited the 
jealousy and opposition of the reigning king 
and his government. 

The enemies of Methodism showed their 
hatred in this way. They reported that Mr. 
Wesley was a papist, if not a Jesuit. They 
said he kept popish priests in his house. They 
had no doubt, they affirmed, that he received 
large sums of money from Catholic countries, 
and when the Pretender landed, he would join 
him, with his followers. Sometimes it was said 
that the king had put him in prison for high 
treason, and some declared that he had been 
seen in France with the Pretender. 

All this sounds very foolish to us, but thou- 
sands believed it, and it hindered Wesley's use- 
fulness. The magistrate at Surrey required him 



216 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTKAYED. 

to sign the declaration against Popery, which 
he did willingly. He even did more. He drew 
up an address, in his own name, and in tlie 
name of his people, to the king, declaring his 
attachment to him, to his family, and to the 
Cliurch of England. 

Although Lady Huntingdon was so well 
known, and was a distant relative of George 
the king, she was slandered in the same way. 
She only smiled at this, until the ignorant 
people who believed it, on that account beat 
some of her preachers. Even the justices of 
the peace refused to interfere in their behalf, 
when they were ill-treated and their property 
destroyed. Moved at this, she appealed to the 
king. She demanded protection for her peo- 
ple, through the magistrates, and she obtained 
it. The king answered her letter, and reproved 
those who had persecuted her preachers. 

But the most painful opposition which the 
countess and her friends were called to endure, 
was that which came from those who professed 
to be the followers of Christ. At the time when 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 217 

she was sitting, as a young convert, under the 
consoling preaching of Whitefield, Lavington, 
tlien just made Bishop of Exeter, delivered 
a charge to his clergy. Tlie bishop was a 
bitter opposer of the Methodist reformers; but 
some mischievous persons published what they 
falsely represented as his address to his minis- 
ters, in which were Methodist sentiments. This 
was shown to the bishop, and he was informed 
that Whitefield had thus imposed upon him 
and the public, reflecting also upon the Wes- 
leys as partners in the fraud. Without care- 
fully inquiring into the truth of a charge 
so evidently false, the bishop published a 
denial of the sentiments attributed to him, and 
charged the Methodist leaders with the author- 
ship of the forged address. This denunciation 
of Methodism and its leaders obtained a wide 
circulation, and coming from a learned and 
distinguished bishop, awakened a great cry, 
and prejudiced many pious people against 
them and the work of God in which they 
were engaged. The bishop was fully and 
U 



218 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 

emphatically assured that he had mistaken 
the authors of the false publication; yet he 
had not the candor to acquit those whom he 
had accused, though he had not attempted 
to prove the charge. Feeling jealous for the 
reputation and usefulness of good men, Lady 
Huntingdon here interposed. She wrote to 
the bishop, inclosing a letter from the printer 
of the imposition, who certified that he ob- 
tained the manuscript from one entirely un- 
connected with the Methodists, and that its 
publication was solely his deed. On the author- 
ity of this declaration the countess demanded 
of the bishop an acknowledgment that "White- 
field and the Wesleys had been wronged in the 
affair. But the haughty prelate left her letter 
unanswered. She was not, however, to be 
thus contemptuously repelled. She wrote him 
again a spirited note, saying that if he did 
not make the acknowledgment, she should 
publicly expose him. This brought the follow- 
ing confession : 

"The Bishop of Exeter, having received the 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 219 

most positive assurances from the Countess of 
Huntingdon, and other respectable sources, 
that neither Mr. Whitefield nor Mr. Wesley, 
nor any one in connection with or authorized 
by them, had any concern in the fabrication 
and publication of a charge said to be delivered 
by him to the clergy of his diocese, takes this 
opportunity of apologizing to her ladyship 
and Messrs. "Whitefield and Wesley, for the 
harsh and unjust censures which he was led 
to pass on them, from the supposition that 
they were in some measure concerned in, or 
had countenanced the late imposition on the 
public. 

"The Bishop of Exeter feels that it is im- 
perative on him to make this concession to 
the Countess of Huntingdon ; and requests her 
ladyship and Messrs Whitefield and Wesley 
will accept his unfeigned regret at having un- 
justly wounded their feelings, and exposed 
them to the odium of the world." 

This was sent by the bishop to the countess 
as a private note. He expected it would be 



220 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

used only as such. But her ladyship rightly 
judged that, as he had exposed the accused "to 
the odium of the world," the world should 
read the confession ; she therefore published 
it. The anger of the bishop at this was intense, 
and he persisted in reviling the Methodist 
ladies, and the woman who had wrung from 
him this reluctant, humiliating, but just re- 
cantation. 

A few years after this affair, and the pro- 
gress of the reformation, "Whitefield established 
preaching among the destitute in the West 
End of London. But a storm of opposition 
assailed him. A mob, with a copper furnace, 
bells, drums, clappers, and other instruments 
of discord, confusion, and merriment for the 
vulgar, raised a loud din the moment he be- 
gan to speak, and continued it until he closed. 
The serious were insulted in passing to and 
from the congregation. The chapel windows 
were broken, and some of the congregation 
were injured by dangerous missiles. These 
abuses by the low and ignorant were encour- 



HATED FOR CHRISrS SAKE. 221 

aged by tlie officers of the cliurcli, in wliich 
he had been permitted to preach. Thus an- 
noyed, Lady Huntingdon appealed, in con- 
nection with Whitefield, to the highest author- 
ities of the government. While tardy justice 
was being awarded, the work of God went 
on, in spite of the rage of men, and ToUenliarn 
Court Chwpel^ of which we have spoken, was 
erected, and continued to open its doors to a 
large congregation, saved by the agency of 
an opposed and reviled ministry. 

Failing in these open attacks, the enemy 
tried the power of mimicry and ridicule. Tlie 
celebrated actor, Foote, was employed to ex- 
hibit in burlesque Whitefield's manner and 
sentiments, on the stage of Drury Lane Thea- 
ter. For the purpose of obtaining materials 
to do so, he attended the services of the chapel 
of Tottenham Court. The profane exhibition 
attracted, for a while, great crowds. 

The well-known comedian, Shuter, was at 
one time sitting under Whitefield's preaching. 
He was, at this time, exciting great applause 



222 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTEAYED. 

on the stage, in the character of ''^ RambleP 
Whether he had come to Tottenham Court 
from mere cm^iosity, or for the purpose whicn 
caused the attendance of Foote, we do not 
know. As he sat directly opposite the preach- 
er, he could feel the entire force of his elo- 
quence. In the full glow of an appeal to 
sinners to come to Christ, "Whitefield fixed his 
piercing gaze upon Shuter, and exclaimed, in 
a voice that thrilled every hearer: ''And thou, 
poor Ramble^ who hast long rambled from 
him, come thou also. O, end thy ramblings 
by coming to Jesus." 

The poor comedian was greatly affected. He 
waited upon "Whitefield in private, and com- 
plained that he had been so singled out in 
the congregation. "I thought I should have 
fainted," he murmured ; " how could you serve 
me so?" 

In Wales, the zealous and eloquent Howel 
Harris preached amid much opposition. The 
poor people, who gladly attended his ministry, 
were impoverished by fines. Harris was nearly 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 223 

stunned, at one time, by a blow upon the head. 
" The gentlemen (!)" he says, " hunt us like 
partridges." 

He met the people at midnight, or very 
early in the morning, to avoid the mob. Many 
of the magistrates, greatly encouraged the 
malice of the low and ignorant, by the readi- 
ness with which they fined the Methodists, 
on their unjust complaints. 

Howel Harris entered a village, at one time, 
to preach. The rumor of his coming had 
gone before him. The magistrate, believing, 
from common report, that he was a pestilent 
fellow, prepared himself with the Eiot Act, 
with which to disperse the congregation, and 
authority to arrest the preacher. ''But," said 
he, "I will hear him myself, before I commit 
him." So making one of the congregation, he 
heard Harris through. He was filled with 
surprise and pleasure. Instead of an incendi- 
ary, as his enemies represented, he seemed to 
him an apostle. He approached him with a 
friendly hand. He begged his pardon for 



224 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

having indulged the purpose of arresting him, 
and took him, to the astonishment of the crowd, 
to the hospitalities of his own house. This 
excellent man, Marmaduke Gwjnne, Esq., be- 
came afterward the father-in-law of Charles 
Wesley. This was the beginning of a long and 
friendly intercourse with the itinerant preachers. 
Tlie intrepid Grimshaw generally preached 
without molestation. He was bold and un- 
compromising, and his dauntless bearing often 
awed his enemies. But at one time he was 
preaching near Colne, in Lancashire. In the 
midst of his discourse, the minister of the 
parish, the Kev. George White, rushed furi- 
ously into the house. A mob of aids followed 
close behind. He scattered the frightened 
worshipers, and demanded of Grimshaw a 
promise not to come into his parish again. 
This was boldly refused. The mob then drag- 
ged him, amid fiendish cries, and a shower of 
stones and mud, to the village tavern, where, 
after some detention by the vicar, he was re- 
leased. Determined not to yield a plain right 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 225 

to preacli Christ where he pleased, Grimshaw 
soon appeared again in the parish of the oppo- 
sing vicar, accompanied by Wesley. The lat- 
ter had only well commenced his discom'se, 
when the mob from Colne poured in upon 
them. The preachers were escorted, by a 
drunken rabble, to a magistrate. They were 
required to promise to preach there no more. 
"That," they replied, " we shall never do." Af- 
ter some words they were dismissed. In 
attempting to leave the house, Mr. "Wesley 
was beaten to the ground, and all his friends 
were assailed with stones and mud. Some 
were dragged by the hair along the road. 
One man was forced to leap from a rock ten 
or twelve feet high into a river. He arose, 
bruised and faint, and attempted to crawl 
out, but was thrust back. He scarcely escaped 
with his life, and died soon after from the 
effects of his ill treatment. 

The vicar was accustomed to rallv these furi- 
ous persecutors by the beat of a drum in the 
public square, having put up the following 



226 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

notice or "proclamation:" "ITotice is hereby 
given, if any man be mindful to enlist in bis 
majesty's service, under the command of the 
Eev. George White, commander-in-chief, and 
John Bannister, lieutenant-general of his majes- 
ty's forces for the defense of the Church of 
England, and the support of the manufactory 
in and about Colne, both which are now in 
danger, let him repair to the drum-head at the 
Cross, where each man shall receive a pint of 
ale in advance, and all other proper encour- 
agement." 

While such opposition was manifested in re- 
tired parishes of England, the same hatred to 
an earnest piety was shown in high places of 
influence. 

About the time that Lady Huntingdon estab- 
lished her school at Trevecca, a band of young 
men in Oxford College had caught the fire of 
the reformation. Following the example of 
Wesley and the first Methodists, they met fre- 
quently for prayer. They gave alms to the 
poor, labored privately for the salvation of men, 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 227 

and some of them dared to preach in barns 
and by the way-side. Complaints were entered 
against them to the heads of the University, and 
they were expelled. Some of the charges 
would excite a smile, if they did not evidence 
something more on the part of the persecutors 
than mere ignorance of religious things. They 
were prompted by intense hatred of the simple 
truth of the Gospel. 

One was charged with having been instruct- 
ed by Mr. Fletcher, a declared Methodist, and 
with associating with Methodists. It was said 
that they had been " indiscreetly admitted into 
the TJniversitfy on the recommendation of Lady 
Huntingdon^'' and that they were, or had been, 
" London tradesmen, tapsters, barbers, etc." It 
was true they were young men whom the 
grace of God had found in the common walks 
of life. Having obtained a hope through 
grace, they were seeking to extend their useful- 
ness, by increasing their knowledge. They had 
carried their religion to college, and that they 
maintained it there, is further evident by the 



228 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED 

declaration of their enemies in announcing 
their expulsion, that they were excluded " for 
holding Methodistical tenets, and taking upon 
them to pray, read and expound the Scriptures, 
and singing hymns in private houses." Their 
moral and religious characters were not called 
in question. It was very pertinently remarked, 
by an observer of this transaction, that since 
they had condemned some for having too inuch 
religion, it would be well to inquire into the 
conduct of those who had too little. 

Lady Huntingdon, true to her religious profes- 
sion and character, came to the rescue of these 
wronged young men. Some entered the school 
at Trevecca. They preached under her patron- 
age, and were saved to the Church as useful 
men. Of course she suffered bitter reproaches 
for this from many in influence and power. 
She was spoken evil of in this case, for Christ's 
sake and the Gospel's. 

It is not strange, perhaps, that hatred of the 
countess by the wicked proceeded so far at one 
time as to result in a plot to take her life. 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 229 

Her influence against Roman Catholicism had 
been very great. The papists rightly looked 
upon the Methodist revival as a new and pow- 
erful enemy. They would, therefore, gladly be 
rid of its leaders. 

The countess, near the close of life, became 
acquainted with a Lord Douglas, a Scotch no- 
bleman who had long resided at Brussels and 
become an ardent Catholic. He professed to 
the countess to have become convinced of the 
errors of papacy, and espoused warmly her re- 
ligious sentiments. He returned to Brussels, 
and after some years, in his correspondence 
with her, he stated that there seemed to be an 
opening of usefulness for her in that country. 
He urged her to come and establish the pure 
Gospel, and promised her his influence and his 
aid to her labors. 

Such a representation was likely to affect her. 
She made immediate arrangements for the new 
enterprise. Tlie day was appointed on which 
she, with one of her ministers, was to leave 
London for Brussels. Many little unforeseen 



230 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

hinderances, however, occurred, and she was 
delayed a few days in that city. During this 
time the most authentic assurances came from 
Brussels of a plot to take her life, in which 
Lord Douglas was the prime mover. His re- 
cantation of popery had been feigned. He 
thought to do God service by the death of a 
heretic. But God arrests him in the midst of 
his evil designs. On the very day that the 
countess left Wales to embark at London for 
Brussels, Lord Douglas, then in excellent 
health, dropped down and instantly expired. 
Surely "God brings to naught the counsels 
of the wicked." 

One of the most fruitless persecutions upon 
which the enemies of the spread of pure re- 
ligion ever entered, was the attempt to stop the 
itinerant labors of the intrepid Berridge. 

Soon after he began to preach at Everton 
the churches in the neighborhood were desert- 
ed, and his was crowded. This offended the 
deserted parsons. The squire of his own parish 
was also angry, because, he said, he hated to 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 231 

be incommoded, and disliked strangers. These 
dissatisfied persons, therefore, joined together 
and complained of Berridge's *' irregularities," 
as they called his earnest and frequent preach- 
ing, and he was summoned before his bishop, 
when the following conversation occurred : 

Bishop. — "Well, Berridge, did I institute 
you to Eaton or Potten? Why do you go 
preaching out of your parish ?" 

Berridge. — " My lord, I make no claims to 
the living of those parishes ; 'tis true, I was 
once at Eaton, and finding a few poor people 
assembled, I admonished them to repent of 
their sins, and to believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ for the salvation of their souls. At 
that very moment, my lord, there were five or 
six clergymen out of their own parishes, and 
enjoying themselves on the Eaton bowling 
green." 

Bishop, (sharply.) — " I tell you that if you 
continue preaching where you have no right, 
you will very likely be sent to Huntingdon jail." 

Berridge. — " I have no more desire, my 



232 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

lord, for a jail than other folks. But I had 
rather go to jail with a good conscience, than 
be at liberty without one." 

Bishop.' — . . . "As to your conscience, you 
know that preaching out of your parish is con- 
trary to the canons of the Church." 

Berridge. — "There is one canon, my lord 
which I dare not disobey. That says, * Go 
preach the Gospel to every creatuTe^ " 

Berridge for a while was annoyed by the 
efforts of his enemies to silence him, but he 
was soon left the undisputed master of the field 
of contest. He went everywhere preaching the 
word. 

A letter from Mr. Berridge to Lady Hunt- 
ingdon, concerning her afflictions and persecu- 
tions, will make a pleasing and instructive close 
to this topic of our narrative. 

" In the present state of things, a winter is as 
much wanted to continue the earth fruitful as 
a summer. If the grass were always growing, 
it would soon grow to notliing ; just as the flow- 
ers that blow much and long, generally blow 



HATED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. 233 

themselves to death. And as it is thus with the 
ground, so it is with the laborers too. Afflic- 
tions, desertions, and temptations are as need- 
ful as consolations. Jonah's whale will teach a 
good lesson, as well as Pisgah's top; and a 
man may sometimes learn as much from being 
a night and a day in the deep, as from being 
forty days in the mount. I see Jonah come out 
of a whale, and cured of his rebellion ; I see 
Moses go up to the mount with meekness, but 
come down in a huff, and break tlie tables. 
Further, I see three picked disciples attending 
their Master to the mount, and fall asleep there. 
I believe you must be clad only in sackcloth 
while you tarry only in the wilderness, and be 
a night-mourning widow till the Bridegroom 
fetches you home. Jesus has given you a hand 
and a heart to execute great* things for his 
glory, and therefore be will deal you out a 
suitable measure of afflictions to keep you 
steady. Did Paul labor more abundantly than 
all his brethren? He had more abundant 

stripes than they all. The Master will always 
15 



234 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

new shave your crown before he puts a fresh 
coronet upon your head. 

"A very heavy time have I had for the last 
three weeks, cloudy days and moonless nights. 
Only a little consolation, fetched down now and 
then by a little dull prayer. At times I am 
ready to wish that sin and the devil were both 
dead ; they make such a horrible racket within 
me and about me. Rather, let me pray. Lord, 
give me faith and patience, teach me to expect 
the cross daily, and help me to take it up cheer- 
fully." 



UNHAPPY IKELAND. 235 



CHAPTEE X. 

UNHAPPY IRELAND. 

We have tlius far noticed briefly the labors 
and persecutions of Lady Huntingdon in En- 
gland. Tliat was her principal field. Though 
she had occasionally turned her attention with 
interest toward Scotland, she left that field 
mostly, so far as furthering the revival of 
religion was concerned, to its own awakened 
ministers, and particularly to her friend Lady 
Glenorchy. 

Though thus interested deeply in one king- 
dom, her sympathies were for a world lying 
in the wicked one. It was early excited to- 
ward Ireland. There were special reasons for 
this. Her grandfather was a baronet of that 
country. Her mother was an Irish lady. Her 
eldest daughter had married the Irish count, 
Moira, and resided there. Her relative, the 



236 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Eev. Walter Shirley, was a clergyman of Dub- 
lin. Yet, for several reasons, she did not 
extend the ministry over which she presided 
to Ireland, until 17Y1. Before this time 
Whitefield's powerful gospel appeals had been 
heard in its metropolis, and to some extent 
in its country towns. 

John and Charles Wesley had been there, 
and had sown seed amid persecution, which 
was abeady bringing forth much fruit. Still, 
popish superstition enslaved the great mass 
of the people. The Protestant Church was, 
for the most part, in a state of dead for- 
mality. 

Influenced by this state of things, and at 
the suggestions of her friends in Dublin, the 
countess rented a hall in that city, in 1Y71, 
and sent one of her preachers to maintain in 
it regular service. It prospered and became 
a flourishing society, but choosing to become 
an Independent church, her ladyship gave 
up her management of it, and purchased, in 
1TY3, an old Presbyterian church in Plunket- 



UNHAPPY IRELAND. 237 

street. Much opposition arose from many 
quarters, yet the work of God went forward. 
Students were sent to Ireland from Trevecca, 
and many country districts were canvassed 
with success. But the harvest was great, and 
the laborers few. Her ladyship writes, in 
view of the little that had been or could then 
be done: "Poor, wicked Ireland, I trust, shall 
yet have a gospel day. I can't see how or 
when, but it must be; and till I find that 
opportunity my eye is only waiting darkly 
for its accomplishment." 

Mr. Shirley co-operated so fully and boldly 
with Lady Huntingdon's pi'eachers, that a 
storm of indignation was raised against him. 
This wrath was, on one occasion, manifested 
in a very ludicrous manner. The assistant 
minister of his own church went to the arch- 
bishop with what he declared to be an aston- 
ishing disclosure against Shirley. Perhaps the 
archbishop would hardly credit it, but Mr. 
Shirley, he said, actually wore white stockings. 
His grace, in order to throw contempt on 



238 LADY HUNTINGDON POETKAYED. 

tlie complainer as well as tlie complaint, 
asked, with an affected solemnity, if Mr. Shir- 
ley wore them over his loots. "If," said he, 
" I should hear he does that, I shall deal with 
him accordingly." 

At this time of persecution and want of 
more laborers in Dublin and throughout Ire- 
land generally, God raised up, by a singular 
providence, a private gentleman of fortune 
to be an eminent instrument of good. 

The history of the conversion and labors 
of "William Smyth, Esq., has an immediate 
connection with this period of our narrative. 

His wife had a passionate fondness for 
theatrical exhibitions. Garrick, the wonder- 
ful actor, was then producing a great sensa- 
tion in London, and she resolved to hear him. 
Unable to dissuade her from her purpose, and 
not being able to go to London himself, her 
husband committed her to the care of Colonel 
Smyth, his brother, who brought her to Lon- 
don and introduced her to the hospitality of 
the Duchess of Leeds. Surrounded, as she 



UNHAPPY IRELAND. 239 

now was, by those who attended every place 
of fashionable amusement, Mrs. Smyth fre- 
quently heard Garrick. 

Having gratified her curiosity in this re- 
spect, her attention was arrested by the pub- 
lic rumor of the eloquence of Romaine at St. 
Anne's Church, Blackfriars. She determined 
to hear him. In vain the duchess sneered 
at his "Methodism," and termed him an 
"enthusiast;" equally without effect did they, 
who had just accompanied her to the crowd- 
ed theater, urge that his church was insuf- 
ferably thronged. She went and heard a 
sermon, full of Divine unction, from the text: 
"Who knoweth the power of thine anger? 
even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath." 
She was awakened to a sense of her sinfulness, 
and soon found peace in believing. 

On hearing of this change in his wife, Mr. 
Smyth hastened to London, under the most in- 
tense excitement. He felt that she was bring- 
ing ruin on herself and family. But she ex- 
plained to him her great peace and its Divine 



240 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

source, and begged him to hear Eomaine. He 
did, and he too became the subject of renewing 
grace. 

At the time that Lady Huntingdon opened 
the chapel in Plunket-street, Mr. and Mrs. 
Smyth were active Christians. But this chapel 
was at an inconvenient distance from their resi- 
dence, and in an obscure part of the city. 
ITear them was a large, wealthy, and worldly 
community. Mr. Smyth, therefore, in 1786, 
erected, in the vicinity of his residence, a 
large, well-proportioned, and tastefully-furnish- 
ed chapel, at his sole expense. A friendly sep- 
aration from the Plunket-street chapel was 
made, of such as were better accommodated by 
the " Bethesda Chapel," as the new house was 
called. The day before its dedication, Mr. 
Smyth went into the chapel, with a few friends, 
and, kneeling in the center, besought God to 
accept it, and bless the word there preached. 
The prayer was answered in an eminent man- 
ner, and Bethesda Chapel was visited with 
marked revival influences, and from it a large 



UNHAPPY IRELAND. 241 

number of young men went forth in after years 
as preachers of the GospeL 

In the beginning of 1T87 Mr. "Wesley visited 
Dublin. He thus speaks of this chapel : 

" On Saturday I preached in Bethesda, (Mr. 
Smyth's new chapel.) It is very neat, but not 
gay ; and I believe will hold about as many as 
West-street Chapel. Mr. Smyth read prayers, 
and gave out the hymns, which were sung by 
fifteen or twenty fine singers. It was thought 
that we had between seven and eight hundred 
communicants. And, indeed, the power of God 
was in the midst of them. On Monday and 
Tuesday I preached again at Bethesda, and 
God touched several hearts, even of the rich 
and great ; so that (for the time at least) they 
were almost persuaded to be Christians. It 
seems as if the good providence of God had 
prepared this place for those rich and honora- 
ble sinners who will not deign to receive any 
message from God but in the genteel way." 

After making a tour through the country, 
Wesley again preached at Bethesda. He ob- 



242 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

serves: "Many fair blossoms we see here, and 
sui-ely some fruit will follow. We had a bril- 
liant congregation, among which were honora- 
ble and right honorable persons. But I felt 
that they were all given into my hands ; for 
God was in the midst. What a mercy it is, what 
a marvelous condescension in God, to provide 
such places as Lady Huntingdon's chapel for 
those delicate hearers who could not bear sound 
doctrine if it were not set off with pretty trifles !" 
Soon after the establishment of a congrega- 
tion in his elegant chapel, Mr. Smyth added to 
it an Orphan School and Asylum for female 
children only, who were lodged in apartments 
over the chapel. One of the first ministers of 
this society was the Eev. Edward Smyth, 
brother to the generous founder. It appears to 
have been supplied mostly by the ministers of 
Lady Huntingdon's connection, though the pro- 
prietor himself became an active local preacher 
under Mr. Wesley. His superior abilities, as 
well as large fortune, were freely used in the 
cause of Christ. 



UNHAPPY IKELAND. 243 

Among the pious persons whom Mr. Smyth 
invited to his hospitable mansion after his con- 
version were Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher. About 
1783 Mr. Fletcher spent some time in Dublin, 
and preached frequently at the French Church, 
which was attended by the descendants of the 
persecuted Huguenots. Among his hearers 
were several wholly unacquainted with the 
French language. When asked why they at- 
tended a service which was in an unknown 
tongue to them, they replied : " "We go to look 
at the preacher, for heaven seems to beam from 
his countenance." 

Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher were extensively useful 
in Ireland, not only in public, but in private. 
The atmosphere which surrounded them was 
pervaded with heavenly influences. People 
crowded in great multitudes to hear their melt- 
ing eloquence. The people of God especially 
acknowledged their instrumentality in raising 
among them the standard of holy living. 

We have seen, in the course of this narrative, 
that wherever Lady Huntingdon attempted to 



244 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

open a new door for usefulness, friends and co- 
laborers were providentially provided for her 
assistance. Her only surviving cliild, Lady 
Elizabeth Moira, was such a friend to her re- 
ligious projects for Ireland. She had married 
Lord Moira in early life, and was, at the time 
of which we speak, exerting a great influence 
in Dublin, the city of her residence. Possess- 
ing a highly cultivated mind, and much of that 
force of character which distinguished her 
mother, her countenance of the preachers who 
visited Dublin under the direction of the latter, 
was of much importance. At one time. Dr. 
Peckwell, an eminent and faithful preacher 
associated with Lady Huntingdon, was excit- 
ing a great interest in the Irish metropolis. 
Through Lady Moira's influence he was invited 
to preach at a chapel ^'-frequented almost ex- 
clusively hy persons of the first romk and respect- 
ability^^ The preacher boldly declared to his 
astonished hearers the whole counsel of God. 
He denounced the eternal wrath of God against 
all who repented not, and entered a solemn 



UNHAPPY IRELAND. 245 

protest against the preaching of those who 
" never mentioned hell to ears polite." A 
storm of indignation was raised, which found 
expression, in part, against Ladj Moira, whom 
the foundress of the chapel. Lady Denny, ac- 
cused of imposing upon her society a Methodist 
preacher. To this accusation her ladyship sent 
the following spirited reply : 

"Conscious of the most upright intentions, 
and fearless of being branded with fanaticism. 
Lady Moira avows her firm conviction of the 
justness and propriety of all that was advanced 
from the pulpit by the respectable clergyman 
whom Lady Arabella Denny and others have 
charged with Methodism, and the propagation 
of new doctrines, subversive of all morality and 
the Established Church ; such charges become 
ridiculous and contemptible when unsupported 
by evidence, and put forth by persons who 
have never exerted one ray of intellect toward 
the discovery of truth from the prevalent errors 
of the day. If Lady Arabella Denny and her 
friends will be at the trouble of comparing the 



246 LADY HUNTINGDON POETRAYED. 

doctrines preached hj Dr. Peckwell, with the 
Thirty-nine Articles and other parts of the 
Prayer Book, they may perhaps discover that 
those clergymen whom they so unsparingly 
vilify with every odious epithet are among the 
number of those who faithfully and conscien- 
tiously preach what they so solemnly sub- 
scribed at their ordination." 

Thus defended, Dr. Peckwell continued to dis- 
turb the consciences of those who, in the pride 
of birth and station, disdained the humbling 
truths of religion. 

But Ireland raised up other distinguished 
friends to Lady Huntingdon. In the year 1767 
there was a young man, just graduating from 
the University of Dublin. He belonged to an 
ancient and respectable family of Ireland, and 
numbered among his relatives some of the emi- 
nent persons of the land. His name was Rich- 
ard De Courcy. He was a brilliant scholar 
and an eloquent speaker. At the age of 
twenty-three he was ordained deacon, and be- 
came assistant preacher of Mr. Shirley, through 



UNHAPPY IRELAND. 247 

whose influence he seems to have learned the 
power of the Gospel. 

Happening at Dublin, his eloquence attract- 
ed crowds to the most spacious church in 
the city. The cost, to him, of his faithfulness 
and popularity, was expulsion from the pul- 
pits of the Established Church, and a refusal 
by the bishop to ordain him elder. 

At this time of trial. Lady Huntingdon came 
to his relief. She secured him further ordi- 
nation by a bishop in England, and his popu- 
lar talents were added to her already large 
and valiant corps of itiuerants. He was im- 
mediately introduced to Mr. Whitefield at the 
Tabernacle. His appearance was exceedingly 
youthful, and by some accident to his ordi- 
nary apparel, he wore his gown and cassock. 
Whitefield, thinking, perhaps, that there was 
a little vain show in this, took off his hat on 
being presented to De Courcy, and bending 
toward him, placed his hand on a deep scar in 
his head. "This wound, sir," said Whitefield, 
" I got in your country for preaching Christ." 



248 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

But the old and scarred warrior soon learned 
that the young recruit, though, by accident, 
in an ostentatious uniform, was worthy of his 
confidence. They became warm and intimate 
friends. 

Such were some of the chapels and labor- 
ers of Lady Huntingdon in Ireland. Her 
labor there, though beginning late in her life, 
and not extended over the country as was 
"Wesley's, was marked by the same Divine 
approval which distinguished it everywhere. 



PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 249 



CHAPTER XI. 

PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 

To those who are devoted to the work of 
God, with earnest hearts and willing hands, 
a door of usefulness is ever open. And as 
each field of labor entered is well improved, 
others are presented still wider and more 
fruitful. Such, at least, was the experience 
of Lady Huntingdon. She had penetrated 
every part of England and "Wales, raising up 
flourishing churches at many important points. 
She had sown precious seed in Scotland, and 
obtained fruit of faithful labor in Ireland. 
Now the sudden death of Whitefield, and 
the transfer to her, by his will, of all his in- 
terest in the Orphan House at Bethesda, in 
Georgia, had imposed new and great respon- 
sibilities. 

Whitefield had, for thirty years, nourished 
16 



S50 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

this institution with unremitting zeal. His 
last visit to it was made in the early payt 
of 1770. He had just completed tasteful 
improvements upon the buildings and the 
grounds, and added to the college a department 
for literary and classical study. To his ardent 
feelings everything about it seemed flourishing. 
He parted from its green shades, and from 
the citizens of Bethesda, who had honored 
his visit by flattering attentions, with a heart 
glowing with gratitude. He traveled l^orth, 
and preached everywhere to listening multi- 
tudes. Having arrived on the banks of our 
own Merrimac, he suddenly but sweetly " fell 
asleep in Jesus." 

When Lady Huntingdon had removed all the 
legal impediments to her possession of the Or- 
phan House and its lands, she began to devise 
liberal things concerning it. But already the 
cloud which so soon shrouded in darkness the 
afiairs of this institution began to appear in the 
distance. It had, unfortunately, been left in 
unfaithful hands, and it was watched by those 



PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 251 

who were ready to seize it as a prey. These 
troubles were foreshadowed in the following 
admonitory letter to her ladyship, from her 
faithful friend, Mr. Berridge. 

"Mr. Winter, who went to Georgia with 
Mr. Whitefield, and returned last Christmas, 
called lately upon me and acquainted me 
with the state of the Orphan House. He 
says there are but few orphans in the house, 
and no symptoms of grace in any. Mr. Wright 
has the whole management of the house, who, 
according to my little knowledge of him, 
seems neither to have zeal nor grace enough 
for the work. Mr. Whitefield, when at Geor- 
gia, made a sumptuous feast, on a Sunday, for 
all the better dressed people, intending to re- 
new it every year by way of commemoration ; 
but I hope you will put a stop to this feasting 
business. I hope the Orphan House may not 
soon become a mere Blue-coat Hospital and 
Grammar School. If Mr. Fletcher could go 
to Georgia for a year, things might be on a 
better footing. Indeed, I never could relish 



252 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Mr. Wright. He seems a mere cabinet- 
maker, without godliness. Mr. Winter, who 
gave me this information, is a zealous, pru- 
dent, godly youth, and is now settled at Bris- 
tol, so that you may easily obtain all needful 
intelligence from him." 

Expecting to meet with obstacles, Lady 
Huntingdon pressed forward, nothing daunted, 
to the accomplishment of her desires for 
America. She sent a circular letter to all 
her preachers to meet her at Trevecca, Octo- 
ber 9, 1YY2. The main purpose of the confer- 
ence was to set apart missionaries for the 
work in Georgia. A master, a president, and 
a stewardess for the Orphan House, and sev- 
eral young men to itinerate through the neigh- 
boring country, were appointed. Her lady- 
ship directed in her call, that the day of or- 
dination should be observed throughout her 
connection as a day of fasting, and prayer for 
God's blessing on the work about to be un- 
dertaken. The circular closed with the fol- 
lowing expression: "As Lady Huntingdon 



PLANNING LIBEKAL THINGS. 253 

supposes this the most important event of 
her whole life, so all that bear her any re- 
gard, in connection with her, she must entreat 
to be present, and is bound to believe great 
blessings, from the Lord Jesus Christ, will 
descend upon all who are made willing to 
help her with their presence and prayers." 

In the same spirit of sanguine expectation of 
increased usefulness, she closes a more private 
invitation to the gathering : " I must repeat the 
surprising success of our labors everywhere. 
How many times ten thousand hear each day, 
I dare not say ; and the calls are increasing so 
fast that my heart is broken not to be able 
to supply all. And this opening in America 
is the astonishment of all who love or fear 
the Lord. . . . The amazing blessings before us 
engage me to write so many letters that you 
must excuse my not being more particular." 

Great was the rejoicing at Trevecca on the 
day of the missionary ordination. Few such 
occasions had then been known. Prayer, 
preaching, and thanksgiving were repeated for 



264 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

several days. The following extract from a 
hymn written for the occasion shows the de- 
vout spirit of the meeting : 

" Go, destined vessel, heavenly freighted, go ; 

For lo ! the Lord's embassadors are thine : 
Faith sits at helm, and hope attends the prow, 

While thousands swell the sails with balmy prayer. 

" Jesus, thy Guardian, walks the briny wave, 
Or on the whirlwind rides, or rules the storm ; 

His eye regards thee, vigilant to save. 
Though danger varies its terrific form. 

" Black gath'ring tempests, awed by his command, 
Their hideous forms in lowly murmurs cease ; 

While o'er the monstrous surge he waves his hand, 
Or spreads the silken mantel of his peace. 

" The Lord of elements is Lord of men ; 

He stills the menace of the hostile wind : 
His servants, soon as the glad port they gain, 

In hearts prepared, shall friendly welcome find." 

Similar services were held in Tottenham 
Chapel, and in the open air on Tower Hill. 

On the 27th of October the missionaries em- 
barked on board the vessel boimd for America. 
Thousands attended them to the water's side. 



PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 255 

As the boat which conveyed them to the vessel 
left the shore, many eyes were suffused with 
tears, and hats and handkerchiefs waved them 
an affecting farewell. A wide-spread inter- 
est in this mission had been excited, and many 
prayers for their success accompanied the voy- 
agers to what seemed then a very far off land. 
When, in due time, it was announced that they 
had arrived safe in Georgia, after only a six 
weeks^ voyage^ (!) all felt that their way had 
been wonderfully prospered. 

The missionaries found at the Orphan House 
a home prepared for them. They immediately 
scattered over the country preaching Christ. 
Many gave heed to their word, especially of 
the neglected Africans. The simplicity and 
fervor of their appeals were well adapted to ar- 
rest their attention and win them to Christ. 
The ''jpoor Indian^'' too, gave some attention to 
the message of salvation, and an interest was 
provoked for them in the hearts of the Georgi- 
ans, by the earnest spirit of the new laborers. 
Great expectations were excited concerning the 



256 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

abundant harvest which seemed ready for the 
reapers. The call which was sent to England 
for more laborers, greatly moved Lady Hunt- 
ingdon. She writes : 

"America is honored by the mission sent 
over. The province of Georgia has made pro- 
posals to build a Church at their own expense, 
and present me with it, that the College of 
Georgia may have their ministry in that part 
honored. The invitations I have for our minis- 
try in various parts of America are so kind and 
affectionate, that it looks as if we were to have 
our way free through the whole continent. 

" My last letters from America inform me our 
way appears to be made to the Cherokee Indi- 
ans ; and in all the back settlements we are as- 
sured the people will joyfully build us churches 
at their own expense, and present them to us, 
to settle perpetually for our use. Some great, 
very great work is intended by the Lord among 
the heathen. Should this appear, I should re- 
joice to go myself to establish a college for the 
Indian nations. / camH' help thinhmg thM 



PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 257 

tefore I die the Lord will have me there^ if only 
to make coats and garments for the poor Indi- 
ans ^ 

We have alluded to the fact that the person 
to whom Whitefield intrusted the management 
of the Orphan House proved unfaithful. Lady 
Huntingdon was equally unfortunate in her 
agent. He had long maintained a character 
for integrity at home, but the temptation of the 
trust of many thousands of dollars, to be used 
among strangers and far from its owner, ap- 
pears to have allured him from an honest course. 
He made large sales of property, and rendered 
no account of it to her ladyship. He wasted 
time and money in a style of living unbecom- 
ing his station and profession. In addition to 
this painful circumstance, she learned that the 
Orphan House had been consumed by fire. 
But this disappointment she received with 
thankful submission to the hand of Providence. 
She observes: "]N"o lives being lost in the fire, 
has made my heart so thankful, that, for the 
many thousands I have temporarily lost by it, 



258 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

I could never wish, it for one moment to be 
otherwise, believing the Lord removed it only; 
out of our way, and that it was not, somehow, 
on that right foundation of simplicity and faith 
our works must stand upon." 

Concerning this disaster, the venerable Ber- 
ridge writes to the Kev. Mr. Winter: "It ex- 
cites in me no surprise that the Orphan House 
is burned down. It was originally intended 
for orphans, and as such was a laudable 
design, but has ceased to be an orphan house, 
in order to become a lumber house for human 
learning, and God has cast a brand of his 
displeasure upon it. But how gracious has 
the Lord been to Mr. "Whiteiield in preserv- 
ing it during his life-time! We all live to 
lay plans, and you laid one last winter, but 
your Master has shown you that he will not 
employ you as his counselor." 

Added to these discouragements, was the 
confusion in the colony of Georgia, and con- 
sequently^ in the affairs there of the count- 
ess, occasioned by the American Revolution. 



PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 269 

"But," she writes to the Secretary of State con- 
cerning her American interests, "my greatest 
losses are by the king's troops, the Americans 
behaving to me with great kindness." J^ot- 
withstanding all these difficulties, a new and 
well-tried agent was sent to take charge of the 
enterprise in Georgia, and the Orphan House 
seems to have been rebuilt, for we hear it 
again spoken of as late as 1782. An end, how- 
ever, was put to her hopes of usefulness in this 
unfortunate institution, by its unceremonious 
seizure by the authorities of the Georgia As- 
sembly. By some assumed or real legal claim, 
they transferred her possession of its control 
to themselves. 

Still believing that she had a work to per- 
form for America, Lady Huntingdon formed 
a noble project for the benefit of the Indians. 
She resolved to convert all the revenues from 
her property in Georgia, which was still con- 
siderable, into a fund for a mission to the In- 
dians, on a large scale. "With this view she 
maintained, for some time, a correspondence 



260 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

with Washington. The following letter, dated 
April 8, 1784, well shows the spirit of these 
epistles. 

"Sir: I live in hopes that before this you 
have received, by our mutual and most excel- 
lent friend, Mr. Fairfax, the grateful acknowl- 
edgments of my heart for your most polite and 
friendly letter; this further trouble arises from 
the kindness of Sir James Jay offering to 
take charge of my packets to the several gov- 
ernors of those states of America to whom I 
have applied on the subject of my most anx- 
ious wishes for the poor Indians : I felt it quite 
impossible to let anything go out of my hands 
without communicating my intentions to you 
before all others. I have therefore taken the 
liberty of sending you, with this, a copy of 
my circular to the governor of each state, 
together with a plan, or rather outlines of a 
plan, thrown together to convey some idea of 
my views. With my very best compliments to 
Mrs. Washington, I remain, with the greatest 



PLANNING LIBERAL THINGS. 261 

respect and esteem, sir, your most obliged, 
and most faithful, and obedient, bumble serv- 
ant, S. Huntingdon." 

An intimation in the above is given, of Lady 
Huntingdon's application to the governors of 
the several states for grants of lands for assist- 
ing missionary labor to the Indians. Among 
her papers a regularly arranged plan for this 
purpose was found after her death, encouraged 
by the Earl of Dartmouth. Students were to 
be sent from Trevecca, and the most energetic 
efforts were to be made to carry it into successful 
operation. But all failed. Though this Ameri- 
can enterprise was one which, for a time, en- 
gaged the countess's purest and most fondly 
cherished purposes; and though good was 
undoubtedly done by her missionaries, yet the 
work she devised was assigned to other hands. 
This part of her history is peculiarly instruct- 
ive. It shows that the plans of the wisest 
and holiest may fail. The end she had so 
much at heart for the New World, was in a 



262 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

wonderful degree accomplished by the other 
great leader of the Methodist revival. Wes- 
ley lived to see those who acted under his 
counsels, bearing the gospel to every settle- 
ment of the colonies, and even beyond, into 
the camps of the Indians. 



i 



CONTEOVERSY. 263 



CHAPTEE Xn. 

CONTROVERSY. 

The period of Lady Huntingdon's history cov- 
ered by the narrative of the last chapter was one 
of controversy. Circumstances seemingly triv- 
ial were occasions of disputes concerning relig- 
ious truth, which were important and perma- 
nent in their influence. We have reserved our 
account of them for a connected statement. 

The early acquaintance of Lady Hunting- 
don and John Wesley has been noticed. The 
countess had acknowledged her indebtedness 
to Wesley for valuable counsel in her first ef- 
forts to be a Christian. For some years they 
seem to have been one, not only in Christian 
affection, but in the articles of their faith. The 
doctrines of Christian perfection and the direct 
witness of the Spirit, which Wesley so con- 



264 LADY HUNTINGDON POliTKAYED. 

stantly and ably preached, she cordially re- 
ceived. But when Whitefield adopted the 
Calvinistic views of the Divine purposes, she 
became their cordial advocate. Yet Wesley 
and Lady Huntingdon continued to cherish 
toward each other feelings of respect and 
Christian love. 

As late as March, 1769, "Wesley was at Bath, 
with his brother Charles, in friendly inter- 
course with her ladyship, and preaching in 
her chapel. Again, in the following May, 
they visit in company the school at Kings- 
wood, apd, after a sermon by Wesley, unite 
in celebrating the Lord's Supper. In August 
of the same year, Wesley and Fletcher, as 
we have stated in the chapter on the " School 
of the Prophets," were laboring with great 
spiritual power, at the anniversary jubilee of 
the college. In January of the following 
year, they meet again at the mansion of the 
countess on Portland Row, London, and Wes- 
ley administered the Holy Communion to Lady 
Huntingdon and her friends. They thus part, 



CONTROVERSY. . 265 

and though they both toil on in God's vine- 
yard for twenty years, meet in co-operative 
labor no more ! How sad ! 

A brief statement of the manner in which 
this alienation occurred will be all that seems 
necessary to our narrative. 

In the summer of this year, (1770,) Wesley's 
Conference met at London. Upon their " Jlfm- 
utes"^^ a record was made of several particulars 
in which it was thought the "Wesleyan people 
were " leaning too much toward Calvinism ;" 
and suggestions were also made by which this 
" leaning" might be avoided. 

Lady Huntingdon, her relative. Rev. Walter 

Shirley, and some others, thought that Wesley 

and the Conference held, in these ""Minutes," a 

doctrine contrary to the Scriptural teaching of 

salvation by faith alone. Being, therefore, 

greatly alarmed, they hastily wrote a circular 

letter, and sent it over the land, calling upon 

all the evangelical preachers to meet Lady 

Huntingdon the following summer at Bristol, 

(where Wesley's Conference was again to 
17 



266 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

assemble,) and to " go in a hody to smd Con- 
ference^ cmd insist ujpon a formal recantation 
of said Minutes; and in case of a refusal^ to 
publish their protest against themP 

The calls of Lady Huntingdon to convene 
tlie ministers of her acquaintance had always 
been promptly responded to, but in this case 
nearly all were silent, or opposed to the object 
of the meeting. Eight persons attended, all of 
whom were immediately connected with her 
ladyship. 

There was an evident impropriety in this form 
of dissent from the doctrine of the Minutes. 
Lady Huntingdon herself soon saw this. "With 
her characteristic Christian candor she addressed 
a note to the Conference, in which she confessed 
the haste, and consequent indiscretion, of the 
circular letter, and respectfully requested that 
the opposers of the Minutes might be permitted 
to be heard in their body through a committee. 

This was granted. Mr. Shirley, with several 
others, then entered the Conference, and, after 
apologizing for the circular, m*ged, in an excel- 



CONTKOVERSY. 267 

lent spirit, their objections against what he un 
derstood 'o be the doctrine of the Minutes. In 
reply, Mr. Wesley assured him and his friends 
that he taught no such sentiments as they 
described. He appealed to his public preach- 
ing for more than thirty years, and to his pub- 
lished sermons, as well as numerous other writ- 
ings, in proof that he uniformly taught justifi- 
cation by faith alone. Since, however, the 
Minutes were acknowledged not to be suffi- 
ciently guarded in this respect, Mr. Wesley, 
with fifty-two of his preachers, signed a decla- 
ration, in which they say : " We have no trust 
or confidence but in the alone merits of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for justification 
or salvation, either in life, death, or the day of 
judgment." 

It does not appear that the Conference, and 
the Wesleyan Connection, for whom the Min- 
utes were written, understood them to teach 
anything contrary to this ; but as others did, 
looking at it from another doctrinal position, 
this declaration was made for the sake of peace 



268 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Having thus satisfied Mr. Shirley, the Con- 
ference requested him to acknowledge, in 
writing, that he had mistaken the meaning of 
the doctrinal points in the Minutes. This he 
did, fully and frankly. 

Here the personal character of the contro- 
versy should have ended, but the circular letter 
had represented Wesley as teaching doctrines 
^'r&pugnant to Scrijpture^ and the whole plan 
of man's salvation under the new covenant." 
Fletcher, immediately after its appearance, had 
taken up his pen and written a defense of his 
honored father in the Gospel, against these 
charges. They contained some kind, but very 
plain reproofs of Mr. Shirley's agency in the 
affair. After learning that he had made so 
honorable and Christian a correction at the 
Conference of his false step, he hastened a mes- 
senger to Bristol, where his defense was being 
published, to delay the printing, that these per- 
sonal references might be expunged. But the 
pamphlet was nearly all printed, and notice 
given of its immediate sale, and as the printer 



CONTEOVERSY. 269 

had received previous orders to hasten it, they 
were put into immediate- circulation. Mr. Shir- 
ley followed this publication by '' a statement" 
of his connection with the protest, to which he 
added some '^ reflections," and then retired 
from the controversy. Mr. Fletcher published 
another letter, or "Check to Antinomianism." 
Sir Richard Hill then entered the list against 
Mr. Fletcher, followed by his brother, the Rev. 
Rowland Hill, at this time a young man ; and 
next came the humorous Berridge ; and, lastly, 
the Rev. Augustus Toplady, the most able of 
them all. Mr. Thomas Olivers and Mr. Sellon 
had something to say on Mr. Fletcher's side, 
but he met, mostly unaided, his numerous oppo- 
nents. He had to encounter not only their 
objections to his arguments, but the severe 
attacks of some of them upon Mr. Wesley's 
private and ministerial character. As to "Wes- 
ley, being so ably defended, he went quietly 
about his accustomed work of preaching Christ, 
and watching, with pastoral diligence, the souls 
God had committed to his care. 



270 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Lady Huntingdon, during this commotion, 
believed, doubtless, that Mr. Wesley had adopt- 
ed wrong views of Scriptural truth, but she 
gave no countenance to the aspersions of his 
character. She had known his goodness and 
eminent usefulness too long. It seems strange, 
that with these views, she should have so hastily 
rejected his Christian fellowship. Immediately 
after the Conference in which the offensive 
statements were made, Mr. Wesley waited for 
her ladyship at Bristol, to accompany her to the 
anniversary meeting at Trevecca, according to 
a previous appointment. But she had seen the 
Minutes, and she wrote to him that, so long as 
lie held those sentiments, her pulpits were shut 
against him. The evidence of more than 
thirty years' labor, that he was sent of God to 
preach, must be disregarded for a hasty inter- 
pretation of a few doctrinal statements. The 
proofs, too, of his acknowledged Divine assist- 
ance in preaching, given one year before at 
Trevecca, and the recollection of his recent 
breaking of bread with her at the Lord's Sup- 



CONTROVERSY. 271 

per, under her hospitable roof, must be set 
aside, at the bidding of a creed, concerning 
which good men always have differed, and per- 
haps always will differ. But such is the weak- 
ness of even superior goodness. The lesson it 
teaches is full of important instruction. 

Mr, Jackson, in his life of Charles Wesley, 
gives the following touching account of the 
feelings of the countess's last moments concern- 
ing Wesley : 

"Lady Huntingdon survived Mr. Wesley 
about iive months. After his death a small tract 
was published, containing the interesting par- 
ticulars of his last illness, with the expressions 
to which he gave utterance in the immediate 
prospect of dissolution. It was drawn up with 
the beautiful simplicity of truth, and bore the 
initials of his friend Elizabeth Kitchie. A 
copy of this document fell into the hands of 
Lady Huntingdon, who read it with superior 
interest, because, according to the natural 
course of things, the time of her own departure 
was at hand. She sent for Joseph Bradford, 



272 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

wlio for many years had been Mr. Wesley's trav- 
eling companionj and asked liim if this account 
of Mr. Wesley was true ; and whether he really 
died acknowledging his sole dependence upon 
the meritorious sacrifice of Christ for accept- 
ance and eternal life. He assured her ladyship 
that the whole was strictly true, and that from 
his own knowledge he could declare, whatever 
reports to the contrary had been circulated, the 
principles which Mr. Wesley recognized upon 
his death-bed had invariably been the subjects 
of his ministry. She listened with eager atten- 
tion to this statement, confessed she had believ- 
ed he had grievously departed from the truth, 
and then, bursting into tears, expressed her 
deep regret at the separation which had taken 
place between them. The spell, which ought 
never to have bound her spirit, was then 
broken." 

Mr. Benson, the head master of the college 
at Trevecca, had avowed his belief in the Wes- 
leyan doctrines, and was dismissed, though with 
a courteous certificate of his good character 



CONTROVERSY. 273 

and competency to teach. Mr. Fletcher, whose 
gratuitous services to the school had met with 
the unqualified approbation of its excellent 
foundress, delicately withdrew, to save Lady 
Huntingdon the painful duty which consistency 
would have required of her, of dismissing him. 
Between Fletcher and the countess there had 
ever been, not only Christian fellowship and 
regard, but, on her part, admiration of his gifts 
and spirit, and on his, profound respect for her 
noble sacrifices for Christ. Their friendship 
was not wholly broken by the shock of contro- 
versy. 

When the heat of the discussion had a little 
subsided. Sir Richard Hill expressed a wish 
" to suppress all he had ever written concern- 
ing the Minutes," and his brother Rowland 
wrote to London to stop the sale of one of his 
bitterest pamphlets. "Thus," he says, " I have 
done my utmost to prevent the evil that might 
arise from my wrong touches of the ark of 
God." " A softer style and spirit would have 
become me." Thus did these good men recover 



274 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

their general feeling of what became them as 
ministers and Christians. As to Mr. Fletcher, 
even religious controversy did not mar his 
heavenly spirit. Even his opponents confessed 
this. In the midst of the polemic battle he 
retired, in feeble and failing health, to the hos- 
pitable roof of a friend at Stoke-Newington. 
Here he was visited by some of his opponents, 
who were astonished at the depth of his com- 
munion with God. " I went," exclaimed one, 
" to see a man with one foot in the grave, but 
I found a man with one foot in heaven." 

Mr. Fletcher and Shirley are found, after 
these memorable contests, at the house of their 
mutual friend, Smyth of Dublin, holding com- 
munion together in the things which pertain to 
a common salvation. 

Thus most of the combatants met in peace 
on earth. Does not the sentiment find almost 
universal utterance now, in the Christian 
Church, that they have met where there is 
but one feeling and one song, " Praise to the 
Lamb." 



CHANGES. 275 



CHAPTEE Xm. 

CHANGES. 

The controversy, no doubt, for a time dis- 
turbed Lady Huntingdon's peace of mind and 
embarrassed her labors. But her prevailing 
desire was to save all the souls possible. And 
though constantly discouraged by unfavorable 
circumstances in the prosecution of her Ameri- 
can enterprises, and finally compelled to aban- 
don them, she watched for other and new fields 
of usefulness. 

In this spirit she turned her attention, in 
1Y76, to a large building in the northern por- 
tion of London, which had been built and 
occupied as a place of Sunday amusement. It 
was called the Pantheon, and seems to have been 
a temple, if not of false gods^ yet fully dedicated 
to the god of this world ; but it proved unprofit- 
able to its proprietors, and was now closed. 



276 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTEAYED. 

The countess consulted her friends concern- 
ing the expediency of the purchase of it for a 
place of religious worship. The vicinity in 
which it was located was almost wholly desti- 
tute of moral instruction. It had no evangeli- 
cal preaching, and no pastor nor missionary to 
care for their souls. But some of her ladyship's 
friends thought the enterprise hazardous in 
view of her other heavy pecuniary liabilities, 
and it was for the time abandoned, with what 
feeling the following letter will indicate : 

" My heart seems strongly set upon having 
this temple of folly dedicated to Jehovah Jesus, 
the great Head of his Church and people. 
Dear Mr. Berridge does not discourage the 
undertaking, but says I may count upon a fit 
of sickness if I engage in this affair. I feel so 
deeply for the perishing thousands in that 
part of London, that I am almost tempted to 
run every risk ; and though at this moment I 
have not a penny to command, yet I am so 
firmly persuaded of the goodness of the Master 
whose I am, and whom I desire to serve, that I 



CHANGES. 277 

shall not want gold nor silver for the work. It 
is his cause. He has the hearts of all at his 
disposal, and I shall have help when he sees fit 
to employ me in his service. Nevertheless, 
with some regret I give np the matter at this 
time; . . . but faith tells me to go forward, 
nothing fearing^ nothing doubting^ 

The moment the countess notified the owners 
of the Pantheon, who were waiting for her an- 
swer, that she should not purchase, it was sold 
to a company of pious men, who gave it in 
charge to the Eev. Herbert Jones and the Kev. 
William Taylor, two zealous and able reformed 
ministers. Much expense and labor was incur- 
red in fitting it as a place of Divine worship. 
But all obstacles were overcome, the place 
dedicated to the " One God, the Father, Son, 
and Holy Ghost." The chaplains entered upon 
their labors in faith, and the place was crowded 
with serious worshipers. But the adversary^ 
whose kingdom was sufi'ering loss, raised up an 
enemy from among God's professed people. 
As he has ever done, he came under the cloak 



278 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

of piety; of jealousy for the rights of "The 
Church." The Eev. Mr. Sellon, the minister 
within whose parish the Pantheon was situated, 
claimed a right to control it in all things. He 
demanded that all the money derived from col- 
lections at the sacrament, and from the pews, 
should be paid to him. He asserted his right 
to occupy the pulpit when he pleased, and 
denied that right to any other minister without 
his permission. This must seem strange to the 
reader when he is reminded, that neither this 
avaricious clergyman himself, nor any with 
whom he was concerned, had ever paid a 
penny toward the property from which he was 
determined to have an income. His claim was, 
of course, resisted, and he appealed to a cTiurch 
law, almost wholly, even then, out of use, and 
spurned by all good men. By this law he was 
sustained, and Mr. Jones and Mr. Taylor were 
denied the use of the church which had been 
purchased for them, unless they obtained per- 
mission of Mr. Sellon, and paid him largely for 
that which was not his. 



CHANGES. 279 

In this state of affairs the countess came to 
the rescue. By the aid and advice of Lord 
Dartmouth, and her old and generous friend, 
Mr. Thornton, and some others, she became the 
owner of the Pantheon. She supposed, that as 
a jpeeress^ she would be out of the reach of Mr. 
Sellon and the ecclesiastical law, which had 
crushed the enterprise of her predecessors in 
this truly missionary work. 

She arranged and furnished the building still 
more suitably for a chapel. The audience-room 
was of a circular form, with two galleries, rising 
one above the other, supported by beautifully 
ornamented pillars, and the whole surmounted 
by a noble dome. She gave it the name of 
" Spafields Chapel," and re-opened it for the 
use of the ministers of her connection on the 
twenty-eighth of March, 1779. The cloud of 
Divine mercy seemed again gathering around 
this temple. " Blessed be God," exclaimed the 
countess, " for the ability and strength which 
has been given me in the prosecution of this 
affair. Opposition is to be expected from that 



280 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTEAYED. 

unhappy man; but the Lord, whose we are, 
and whom we serve, will make us more than 
courageous, and cause his name and the un- 
searchable riches of his grace to triumph 
over all the malice and vain opposition of his 
enemies. O pray that his presence may be 
with us, and the power of his arm revealed in 
the conversion of sinners to himself! My eye 
is directed to this ultimate and only end of all 
my labors." 

But Mr. Sellon had not ended his selfish 
opposition. He prosecuted Lady Hunting- 
don's ministers for preaching in the Pantheon 
without his permission. On consulting the 
highest legal authority in the kingdom, she 
learned that the wicked parish minister might, 
if he chose, prevent even her chaplains from 
pursuing their benevolent labors. It was evi- 
dent, also, that in the same way all her chapels 
might be shut up ! ! 

Thus, after nearly forty years' employment 
of ministers to preach the gospel to those who 
were hungry for the bread of life, and after 



CHANGES. 281 

having been most distinctly owned of God 
in this work, she found that she had been 
acting illegally; and that any persecuting 
man might defeat all her designs, if she pur- 
sued the same course. This surely was a great 
change in the aspect of affairs ! What could 
be done? 

Some of our readers may need to be in- 
formed, that there is a- law in England called 
the " Toleration Act," which allows all who 
differ from the '' Established Church," to have 
their own chapels, and worship God their 
own way. But all who ask to be protected 
by this law, must either say they differ from 
the State Church, or seem to do so, by the re- 
quest. ISTow Lady Huntingdon did not differ 
in feeling or sentiment from this Church. She 
was ardently attached to it and its usages. 
But she wished to do, what, but for an almost 
forgotten law, she might do, and that which 
had long been done, namely, manage the af- 
fairs of her own places of worship. But as 
this was now clearly determined to be "irreg- 
18 



282 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

iilar," there was no way left, but for her min- 
isters to ask for the privileges of the "Toler- 
ation Act," and thus be regarded as seceders 
from the Church of their choice, and the 
countess, as their head, to be accounted as 
" dissenting," though she still remained a mem- 
ber in spirit. To accomplish this, Mr. Wills 
and Mr. Taylor, the present chaplains of the 
Spafields society, became "dissenters," and as 
such continued in quiet possession of their 
place of worship. Sellon was spoiled of his 
gains, and the enemies of religion robbed of 
the pleasure of seeing a useful and large society 
scattered. But this step led her old and faith- 
ful friends Romaine, Yenn, Townsend, and 
others, to cease to labor in her chapels. To 
do so now, would seem to profess to depart, 
in a measure at least, from their Church. 
This they declined doing. Yet they retained 
a cordial fellowship for the countess and her 
ministers. ^Notwithstanding, faithful laborers 
were raised up for the countess's assistance, 
and the work went on. The following letter 



CHANGES. 283 

will show the spirit of her ladyship under all 
these conflicts : 

"Long have I been looking for some release 
to indulge your friends, and to have you share 
in the blessed success of the gospel that daily 
surrounds us. It is great indeed. But perse- 
cutions are each hour arising against me, and 
only at me seems all the bitterness expressed. 
I am to be cast out of the Church now, only 
for what I have heen doing these forty years, 
sjpeaking and living for Jesus Christ I and if 
the days of my captivity are now to be ac- 
complished, those who turn me out, and so 
set me at liberty, may soon feel what it is, 
by sore distress themselves for those hard 
services they have caused me. Blessed be 
the Lord, I have not one care relative to this 
event, but to be found exactly faithful to God 
and man through all. You will smile and 
rejoice with me in all I may suffer for our 
dear Immanuel's sake. I have asked none to 
go with me, and none that do not come will- 
ingly to the help of the Lord, and by faith 



284 LADY HUNTINGDON POKTRAYED. 

in the Son of God, lay all at his feet; any 
others would do me no good, and He only 
knows these. But Mr. Wills, Mr. Glasscott, 
and Mr. Taylor offered themselves willingly for 
the people against the mighty; and may the 
evil pronounced against Meroz belong to none 
I know. 

''The chapel is crowded from door to door, 
and multitudes go away disappointed at not 
being able to get in. . . . I have been se- 
verely handled and vilified; but none of these 
things move me ; determined the short rem- 
nant of my declining age shall be employed 
in setting up the standard, and enlarging the 
circle of evangelical truth. With the Lord's 
help, I shall go on in devotedness to his work, 
and wait contentedly for his approbation when 
called to give up my account." 

Having thus separated, in form, from the 
Episcopal Church, it became necessary that 
Lady Huntingdon's Connection should ordain 
its ministers according to the plan of secession. 
The first ordination of this kind took place 



CHANGES. 285 

at the Spafields Chapel in 1783. The candi- 
dates were six young men who were educated 
at the Trevecca College. The principle and 
form of ordination was essentially that adopted 
by Wesley for his American churches, and 
which they now use. The ceremony was 
deeply impressive, and the step seems to 
have given new energy to the work of God. 

The following statement will show fully the 
position of the countess's connection, after the 
secession, as a distinct denomination of Chris- 
tians. " They differ from the "Wesleyans by 
holding the doctrinal articles of the Church 
of England, in their Calvinistic sense; from 
the Baptists, by the administration of baptism 
to infants, and that by sprinkling or pouring; 
from the Independents, in admitting the law- 
fulness, and in many cases the expediency, 
of using a Scriptural liturgy ; from the Church 
of England itself, in being free to employ 
whatever they deem valuable, and to refuse 
what to them appears objectionable in her 
services, while they are exempt from that 



286 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

corrupting influence to which she is exposed 
by her union with the state." 

The chapel, whose erection had caused this 
great change in Lady Huntingdon's Connection, 
became emphatically a remval chapel. 

The following incidents will illustrate the 
manner in which God blessed it to the good 
of souls. 

One of its chaplains was once walking in the 
streets of Edinburgh, when he was thus ad- 
dressed by a young man. 

''Sir, I recognize you as one of the chaplains 
of the Spafields Church, London. Do you re- 
member a note put up from an afflicted widow, 
begging the prayers of the congregation for the 
conversion of an ungodly son." 

" I do well remember such a circumstance." 

" Sir, / am the very person', and, wonderful 
to tell, the prayer was effectual. I was going 
on a frolic with some other abandoned young 
men, one Sunday, through the Spafields, and, 
passing by the chapel, I was struck with its 
appearance, and hearing that it was a Method- 



CHANGES. 287 

» 

ist chapel, I entered, when you, sir, read the 
note, requesting the prayers of the congregation 
for an afflicted widow's profligate son. I heard 
it with a sensation I cannot express. I was 
struck to the heart ; and though I did not then 
know it was from my own mother, I felt the 
bitterness of a widow's heart who had a child 
as wicked as I knew myself to be. 

" My mind was instantly solemnized. My 
attention was riyeted on the preacher. I heard 
his prayer and sermon with an impression very 
different from that which I had carried into 
the church. From that moment the Gospel 
truth penetrated my heart. I joined the con- 
gregation. I cried to God in Christ for mercy, 
and found peace in believing. I became my 
mother's comfort, as I had long been her heavy 
cross. I am now advantageously settled in this, 
my native country, and have endeavored to 
dry up the widow's tear which I so often caused 
to flow. We are blessed with every worldly 
comfort, and every day acknowledge the kind 
Providence that led me to Spafields Chapel." 



288 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTEAYED. 

On one occasion a mob approached the Spa- 
fields Chapel, full of hate to religion and places 
of Divine worship. Their first purpose was to 
pull it down. But some one remarked, that the 
chapel belonged to Lady Huntingdon, at which 
they exhibited some signs of relenting. 

At this critical moment one of the number 
exclaimed, " My mother attends there ; it must 
not be touched." Thus appeased, the rioters 
turned away. 

In 1790, although the countess had passed 
her fourscore years, and had assumed, as we 
have seen, heavy responsibilities for the cause 
of Christ, and although her last chapel enter- 
prise had succeeded only by severe conflicts, yet 
she purchased a theater for a place of worship. 
It was situated in a portion of London where 
but little religious influence was exerted. The 
proprietor, finding that it was unprofitable, sold 
his lease of seventy-eight years to her ladyship 
for an annual rent of about five hundred dol- 
lars. She fitted it for her purpose, from her 
own purse, at an expense of thirteen thousand 



CHANGES. 289 

dollars. The pulpit was placed on the front of 
the stage. The first floor was arranged with 
free seats, and was ample enough to accommo- 
date six hundred persons. This part of the 
building was called the " circle," and had been 
used for feats of horsemanship. The stage and 
the galleries around the whole house were 
neatly fitted with pews, and the whole seated 
several thousand people. 

Thus to the last we find this earnest laborer 
for Christ true to herself. I*To trials intimidated 
her. Failures, even, in one direction, did not 
prevent her from efforts in another. Her motto 
seemed to be, " Exjpect great things^ atterrupt 
great thmgsP 



290 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 



GHAPTEE XIY. 

BETTER ACQUAINTED. 

We are drawing near to the close of our 
brief sketch of Lady Huntingdon's life. We 
have witnessed her conversion and its immedi- 
ate fruits. We have -seen her far-extended 
public labors. The faces of those with whom 
she associated have become somewhat familiar 
to us. We are not strangers to her personal 
and family afflictions, and we have learned that 
she did not accomplish the noble work of her 
life without bitter opposition. A knowledge of 
all these facts seems to authorize us to claim 
terms of greater intimacy with her. We will 
therefore accompany her in her more private 
walks, and study the secret workings of a heart 
from whence the generous actions flowed. 

First, then, let us visit her in one of her 
short sojournings at Bristol. She goes to the 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 291 

great congregation, visits the school, and pro- 
jects new places of worship. All this we have 
learned to expect. And we are not surprised 
that, in an humble garb, and in a private man- 
ner, she calls at the prisons. She drops words 
of instruction and sympathy to the convicts, 
points them to a forgiving Saviour, and leaves 
them deeply affected. 

She passes on to the house of pestilential 
disease, where poverty is added to great bodily 
suffering. Eegardless of her own safety or 
comfort, she gently serves at the sick-bed, not 
saying merely, "Be ye warmed and clothed," 
but giving freely of her substance to provide 
for their temporal comfort. Thus establishing 
herself in their confidence, she earnestly com- 
mends to them the comforts of religion. 

Leaving Bristol, we stop a few days with her 
at Newgate. Here are a different class of suf- 
ferers, " poor debtors," men whose poverty, in 
some cases, has been esteemed a crime. They 
are confined as felons, for the lack of a few 
dollars, which sickness, it may be, or sudden 



292 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

disaster prevented them from securing. They 
are nnhappy, not only in their confinement, but 
in their separation from their families, who 
were dependent upon their industry for bread. 

How do these unfortunate sufferers welcome 
the visits of Lady Huntingdon and her sisters, 
the Ladies Hastings, whom she has taken with 
her? They inquire carefully into the circum- 
stances of each, and liberate several, whose 
separate debts were less than fifty dollars. 

As these liberated fathers shall hasten to 
their families, and gather their children about 
them, and tell them the story of those who may 
innocently seem to them as angel liheratorsy 
what blessings shall be bestowed upon them! 
Better still, and more glorious, will be the occa- 
sion when Christ shall say, ''Z was in prison, 
and ye visited me." '' Inasmuch as ye have 
done it unto one of these, ye have done it 
unto me." 

We have referred to her attendance upon 
public preaching. We may inquire with what 
spirit she heard the word. The following 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 293 

statement will show. "When one of her preach- 
ers was about to enter the sacred desk, she 
retired to her closet for secret prayer. This 
was a constant habit. She there wrestled for a 
blessing upon the truth offered in the name of 
Christ. As soon as the service closed, she 
retired again for solemn audience with God. 
She besought a blessing to follow the efforts 
which had been made to save souls, that the 
seed sown might be made fruitful. Thus she 
set an example of a recognition of our depend- 
ence upon Divine aid in all our labors. And 
in thus doing, she secured to herself the largest 
benefit from the ordinances of God's house. 

Consistently with the above-named practice, 
did she, at all times, and in all the various cir- 
cumstances in which she was placed, converse 
of things which tended to edification. Her 
favorite theme was the goodness of God in her 
conversion, its happy fruits of peace and joy, 
and the necessity of such a change in the expe- 
rience of all, if they would have any hope in 
death. The most deeply experienced Chris- 



294 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

tians acknowledged a great benefit from social 
intercourse with her, and the most worldly and 
thoughtless were often made serious in her 
presence. Yet her conversation was not ser- 
monic and repulsive, but lively and attractive. 
If she habitually spoke of religious things, it 
was from the abundance of a grateful and hap- 
py heart. 

Let us pass now from the social into the 
family circle. By her widowhood Lady Hunt- 
ingdon became the head of her family. By 
the frequent presence of friends and invited 
guests, it was frequently very numerous, yet the 
family altar was never neglected. Sometimes, 
in her parlor, in the presence of distinguished 
persons, she would herself lead the devotional 
exercises. On one of these occasions, a young 
lady, eminent for her gifts and attainments, as 
she was also for a reckless disregard for serious 
things, entered the room. On every side were 
lords and ladies, in a listening attitude. The 
countess, with an intonation of voice peculiar 
to her on such occasions, was praying. Struck 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 295 

•with the aspect of the scene, to her strange 
indeed, under the first impulse of her feelings, 
she laughed aloud. Recovering her self-pos- 
session, she became more serious, and apologized 
for her seeming levity. Made thoughtful by 
the religious influences about her, she employ- 
ed her talents as a musical composer in setting 
to music a favorite hymn of the countess's 
collection. 

Thus was this remarkable woman true to 
herself and religion, in her family circle. 

Let us pass out with her now, from the re- 
tirement of home, to the presence of the 
highest in the Church, and into audience with 
royalty itself. "We shall learn why she seeks 
such society, now that she has renounced 
worldly honor, and whether she carries thither 
her Christian faithfulness. In the winter of 
1771, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a 
series of balls and fashionable parties, at his 
palace. The extravagance of the expense of 
these occasions, and the mirthful indulgences 
of the guests, were not exceeded by any like 



296 LADY HUNTINGDON POETEAYED. 

assemblies of the times. The wife of the arch- 
bishop was the leading personage in the fask- 
ionable world. 

These facts were, of course, noised abroad, 
to the great reproach of religion. Even the 
gay attendants upon his drawing-rooms sneered 
at the "piety" of "his grace." Afflicted at 
this state of things, the Countess Huntingdon 
sought and obtained a private interview with 
the archbishop and his wife. She courteously 
remonstrated with them concerning these im- 
proprieties. But his grace was violently 
angry, and his wife ridiculed Lady Hunting- 
don in all the fashionable circles, while the 
parties went on as before. ISTot discouraged 
in well doing, her ladyship next endeavored 
to remonstrate with the archbishop through 
a mutual friend of high position. But this 
only brought upon her additional abuse, and 
the brand, from the prelate, of "enthusiast" 
and " hypocrite." 

She next sought a private audience with 
the king. She was received cordially both by 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 299 

his majesty and the queen. When she had 
laid her complaint before him, the king replied: 
"Madam, the feelings you have discovered, 
and the conduct you have manifested on this 
occasion, are highly creditable to you. The 
archbishop's behavior has been slightly hinted 
to me already ; but now that I have a cer- 
tainty of his proceedings, and most ungener- 
ous conduct toward your ladyship, after your 
trouble in remonstrating with him, I shall 
interpose my authority, and see what that 
will do toward reforming such indecent prac- 
tices.'' 

The countess continued more than an hour 
in familiar conversation with their majesties. 
The queen bestowed upon her many compli- 
ments for her benevolent enterprises. The 
king remarked that he was no stranger to her 
proceedings, " but," he added, " I have been 
told so many odd stories of your ladyship, 
that I am free to confess I felt a great degree 
of curiosity to see if you were at all like 
other women ; and I am happy of having 
19 



300 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

the opportunity of assuring your ladyship of 
the very good opinion I have of you, aad 
how very highly I estimate your character, 
your zeal and abilities, which cannot be con- 
secrated to a more noble purpose." 

After her ladyship had retired, the king 
said to Lord Dartmouth: "I was much taken 
with her appearance and manner. There is 
something so noble, so commanding, and withal 
so engaging about her, that I am quite capti- 
vated with her ladyship. She appears to pos- 
sess talents of a very superior order, is clever, 
well-informed, and has all the ease and polite- 
ness belonging to a woman of rank. "With all 
the enthusiasm ascribed to her, she is an hon- 
or to her sex and the nation." 

A few days after this interview, the king 
sent a note to the archbishop. It expressed 
his "grief and concern that fashionable par- 
ties had found their way into a palace which, 
in former years, had been devoted to Divine 
studies, religious retirement, and the extensive 
exercise of charity and benevolence." He 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 301 

trusted that the cause of offense ^' would be 
suppressed immediately," so that he might 
not have occasion to " interpose in a different 
manner." 

The lord prelate and his offending wife, 
not feeling at liberty to sneer at this evidence 
of the king's piety, conducted thenceforth more 
as became their station. 

Thus Lady Huntingdon did not permit sin 
in high places to go unrebuked. 

Kot far from the same time the countess 
had occasion to show her Christian faithful- 
ness in reproving a misstep in two of her 
most popular and beloved preachers. 

It was briefly this. A parish minister who 
had a dependent family, became involved 
in debt, and was thrown into prison. His 
bishop would not let him fill the pulpit 
for a limited time^ by another, though he 
might dispose of it permanently. This he 
did to one of Lady Huntingdon's preachers, 
in the presence and through the influence 
of another. N'othing was said about paying 



302 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

for it, and the j)lace was formally and legally 
transferred. Soon after, the sujffering aiid 
imprisoned clergyman was offered five thou- 
sand dollars for the position. 

With deep emotion, he sent to the occu- 
pant, and begged that he would relinquish it, 
or pay something like the sum offered. Plain 
justice, and the wants of himself and family, 
pleaded in vain in his behalf. He was told 
the law was against him, and his demand was 
rejected wholly. 

When these facts were known, they were 
used by the enemies of religion to its disad- 
vantage. Lady Huntingdon arrived in the 
vicinity of these transactions, from one of her 
evangelical tours, in time to hear the bitterest 
reproaches hurled against the offending preach- 
ers. She lost no time in endeavoring to con- 
vince them of their error; failing to do this, 
she took from her purse the sum offered, (five 
thousand dollars,) and presented it to the im- 
prisoned minister, who was thereby restored 
to his family, and freed from poverty. 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 303 

This she did, to show to the world, so far 
as her influence could proclaim it, that relig- 
ion forbade the act of which it complained. 
The ministers themselves were thus reproved, 
and tlie current of public feeling was changed 
toward those who professed to be followers 
of Christ. 

It must have been impressed upon the reader, 
in the course of this biography, that a prom- 
inent trait in her ladyship's character was 
her benevolence. Some further illustrations 
of this will therefore be interesting. 

One who knew her well has said: "E'ever, 
perhaps, did mortal make a nobler use of 
what she possessed, live less attached to the 
earth and its unrighteous mammon, or dis- 
pense it with a more open hand. She was one 
of the poor who lived upon her own bounty. 
If she grudged anything, it was to herself. 
]N"ever did human being sit more loose to 
money, or more jealously watch over the dis- 
tribution of it, that every shilling she possessed 
should be employed to the glory of God. But 



304 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

with all her fortune and self-denial, her finan- 
ces were inadequate to her calls." 

In order to carry out consistently these feel- 
ings concerning the use of money, she relin- 
quished her equipage, livery servants, ele- 
gantly furnished residences, which belonged 
to persons of her birth and station by the 
requirements of almost universal usage for 
many centuries. Her apparel was exceed- 
ingly simple and economical. She sold all her 
jewels. They consisted of "drops," "pearls," 
"seed pearls," "gold box," etc., amounting 
to about thirty-seven hundred dollars, with 
which she purchased a small chapel for the 
poor. She thus dispensed with "gold" and 
" costly array," dedicating all she had to God. 

She not only gave as opportunity presented, 
but sought occasion to do so. She wrote at 
one time to Dr. Doddridge, who was at the 
head of a school of young men, begging him to 
find some worthy indigent young men, whose 
heart God was evidently moving toward the 
work of the ministry, that she might assist them 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 305 

in obtaining a suitable education. And when 
that great and good man himself was sick, 
and needed rest from labor, and a journey to 
a warmer climate, which his poverty, in view 
of his duty to his family, forbade, she placed 
in his hands about four thouscmd dollars. 
Twenty-five hundred of this she gave herself, 
and begged the remainder from her w^ealthy 
friends. With this timely relief, the good 
man's last moments were made free from 
solicitude, and his mind left to employ all 
its powers in the work of God. 

Her well-tried and valued friend Berridge was 
the subject also of her generosity. Although 
Berridge was a bachelor, and had a consider- 
able income from his parish at Everton, be- 
sides having inherited some property, yet he 
impoverished himself for the good of the cause 
of Christ. Full of generous impulses, if any- 
thing remained in his own purse it was at the 
disposal of a suffering brother, without refer- 
ence to his own future necessities. 

Having in this way brought himself into 



306 LADY HUNTINGDON POETRAYED. 

financial embarrassment, he was taken serious- 
ly ill in the midst of his necessities. Heat- 
ing that he was unable to attend to his pro- 
fessional business, the countess wrote him a 
letter of condolence, and invited him to make 
her a visit. In answer, he tells her he 
cannot, for he is as "flat as a flounder," 
and, besides, he has no coat fit to appear 
out in, even at Everton, and concludes by 
asking her " to patch it up by a small bank 
bill." 

By return of mail the bill for the supply 
of his temporal necessities was forwarded by 
her ladyship. 

So ready was the countess to give at every 
call for aid, that some of her friends with- 
held from her, in some cases, a knowledge of 
the occasions for giving. They knew that 
her liberality exceeded her income. 

Captain Scott, at one time, with some other 
ministers, having a case presented to them, and 
believing that the countess would give, though 
she could not well aff'ord to do so, resolved not 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 307 

to acquaint her with it. By some means, how- 
ever, her ladyship heard of the case, and also 
of the combination to keep it from her. At 
this she was exceedingly grieved. When she 
met Captain Scott she burst into tears. "I 
have never," she exclaimed, "taken anything 
ill at your hands before. But this^ I think, is 
very unkind." And, as if to compensate the ap- 
plicant for the wrong which she thought was 
purposed against him, she gave him ^yq hun- 
dred dollars. 

In the exercise of this spirit of benevolence 
she gave away, in the course of her Christian 
life, more than five hundred tliousa/nd dollars. 

How much better than to have kept it can- 
kering in her coffers. How much wiser than 
to have left it to her children, thereby to be- 
guile them ffom the path of Christian integ- 
rity. How glorious to have had the privilege 
of converting so much earthly treasure into the 
imperishable treasure of heaven. 

It must not be supposed that this large ex- 
penditure for Christ was made from such world- 



308 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

ly abundance as not to be felt. Far from it. 
She gave until it became a sacrifice. 

At one time she stood engaged for twenty- 
five hundred dollars toward a chapel. Her 
frequent charitable drafts had exhausted her 
purse, and she could not meet the demand 
The friend who called for it reproved her for 
such extreme liberality. But before he left the 
mail brought her letters. As she opened one 
her countenance brightened, and her tears be- 
gan to flow. It read thus : " An individual 
who has heard of Lady Huntingdon's exertions 
to spread the Gospel, requests her acceptance 
of the inclosed draft to assist her in the lauda- 
ble undertaking." 

It was for twenty-five hundred dollars^ the 
exact sum for which she stood pledged. She 
handed it to the friend who had called for her 
subscription, saying, "Take it, pay for the 
chapel, and be no longer faithless, but be- 
lieving." 

Such were some of the excellent qualities of 
Lady Huntingdon. She had her weak points 



BETTER ACQUAINTED. 309 

of character, but we need not detail them. 
She knew and lamented them. But so many 
and great were her virtues, that those who were 
constantly with her were her most ardent ad- 
mirers. With them she was ever " my dear 
lady." The grace of God was conspicuous in 
her most private as well as public walk. She 
bore habitually the image of Christ. 

If we should mention one failing of Lady 
Huntingdon, as perhaps the most noticeable 
one, we should refer to what might be an al- 
most unavoidable perversion of her greatest 
excellence. She seemed, sometimes, too per- 
sistent, if not obstinate in her purpose. Accus- 
tomed to assume great responsibilities, and to 
be deferred to in matters of great importance, 
she necessarily cultivated habitual self-reli- 
ance. The following incident will illustrate 
our meaning: 

The celebrated Eowland Hill was in the 
zenith of his popularity when the Spafields 
Chapel went into successful operation. In 
former years the countess had assisted him 



810 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

when others refused him fellowship. But they 
were not formed for companionship with each 
other, and they had labored more recently 
apart. But the committee of Spafields society 
wished to avail themselves of so popular a gift 
as Hill's, particularly as he had made a special 
request to be permitted to occupy, at times, the 
pulpit. Tliis wish was supported by influential 
mutual friends. The request was sent to her 
ladyship, and the following answer was re- 
turned: "Without reserve to you, my kind 
friend, and with every best wish to dear Mr. 
Yenn, Mr. Hill cannot preach for me. This 
must not be pressed. When we meet I will 
explain fully my present reasons. Should any 
future day prove it expedient, it may be recon- 
sidered, but be assured it cannot be ISTOW." 

But there was no unkindness, though there 
might have been too much firmness in this. 
Who will imitate her virtues, and manifest 
fewer infirmities ? 



PARTING. 311 



CHAPTER XY. 

PARTING. 

The venerable countess's labors have been 
briefly recounted. We come to contemplate 
her at the evening of life, and in her experi- 
ence with the last enemy. 

For some years before her death, she natu- 
rally thought much of some plan to perpetuate 
the work God had, for so many years, commit- 
ted to her hands. After much deliberation 
and counsel with her best and wisest friends, 
she employed a committee at London, or 
"Acting Association," as they were called, to 
draw up a plan of government for her Connec- 
tion after her decease. The result of their la- 
bors she fully approved, and caused it to be 
printed, and, with a circular from herself rec- 
ommending it, to be sent to all her chapels. 



812 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTKAYED. 

But it met with opposition from her bosom 
friends, and she acknowledged, with sad feel- 
ings, her inability, at her advanced age, to 
stem the current which bore it away. To the 
last her judgment clung to it as the best provision 
for her people. But not being able to leave 
a denominational organization, she left the 
chapels which she still held as private property, 
"with all her houses and furniture therein, 
with the residue of her estates and effects," to 
four trustees. Only seven chapels were claim- 
ed, and one of these was heavily mortgaged ; 
the rest had been given to the societies wor- 
shiping in them. The property thus bequeath- 
ed she expected the legatees to use for the same 
great end to which she had ever aimed, " rely- 
ing on the almighty power and good grace of 
Jesus Christ, her God and Saviour, to dispose 
their hearts in all things which might tend 
most to his honor and glory, and the real good 
of mankind, in the spreading and promoting 
his glorious and precious Gospel, as well abroad 
as at home." 



PARTING. 313 

To this disposition of her worldly effects her 
only surviving child and heir. Lady Moira, 
made no objections. 

This will was signed in 1790. The countess 
was now eighty-four years of age. Though still 
bearing her armor, and fighting the " good 
fight," she was pressed with the weight of 
years. To the children of God, she appeared 
like Anna in the temple, waiting for the coming 
of her Lord. 

A pious person from the country called upon 
her about this time. Having spent a short 
time in pleasing conversation, he remarked, as 
he passed from her house : *' What a lesson ! 
Can a person of her noble birth, nursed in the 
lap of grandeur, live in such a house, so meanly 
furnished? and shall I, a tradesman, be sur- 
rounded with luxury and elegance ? From this 
moment I shall hate my house, my furniture, 
and myself, for spending so little for God and 
so much for folly." 

The grace of God was the ground of her 
hope. Her peace was not that of an innocent 



314 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

person, but of a redeemed sinner. She did not 
plead what she had done, but what Christ had 
suffered for her. She looked, not only with 
composure, but delight on the grave. 

A short time before her last sickness, one of 
the clergymen whom she honored with her con- 
fidence, spending a few moments with her a? 
he passed through London, she spoke of herself 
in a manner that will illustrate her religious 
experience at this time. 

" I feel myself a poor worm." 

'' Drawing near Him, what hope could I 
entertain, if I did not know the eflS.cacy of his 
blood, and turn, as a prisoner of hope, to this 
stronghold V 

" How little could anything of mine give rest 
to a departed soul ! so much sin and self mix- 
ing with the best, and always so short of what 
we owe !" 

" 'Tis well for us. He can pity and pardon ; 
and we have confidence that he will do so." 

" I confess, my dear friend, I have no hope 
but that which inspired the dying malefactor at 



PARTING. 315 

the side of my Lord. I must be saved in the 
same way, as freely, as fully, or not at all." 

The friend remarked, that though we devoted 
our lives to the service of God, and died for his 
cause, we could not plead this for comfort in 
a dying hour. To which she replied, earnestly, 
"]^o. A sinner is blessed and secure when he 
can say, ' God, be merciful to me, a sinner,' and 
is found accepted of the Beloved." 

To a paper of importance, written a few days 
before her death, she appended the following 
sentiments : 

" As I have always lived the poor, unworthy 
pensioner of the infinite bounty of my Lord 
and Saviour, Jesus Christ, so I do hereby de- 
clare, that all my present peace and future 
hope of glory, either in whole or in part, de- 
pend wholly, fully, and finally upon his alone 
merits, committing my soul into his arms unre- 
servedly, as a subject of his sole mercy to all 
eternity." 

When a blood-vessel broke, which was the 

commencement of her last illness, she said to 
20 



316 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

Lady Anne Erskine, on being asked how she 
did: " lam well, well forever; I see, wherever 
I turn my eyes, whether I live or die, nothing 
but victory." 

Toward the close of the bleeding she re- 
peated, with all the energy her weakness would 
allow : '' The coming of the Lord draweth 
nigh. O ! Lady Anne, the coming of the Lord 
draweth nigh ! The thought fills my heart with 
joy unspeakable !" 

At another time she said: "All the little 
ruffles and difficulties which surround me, and 
all the pains I am exercised with in this poor 
body, through mercy, affect not the settled 
peace and joy of my soul !" 

A day or two before the closing scene, just 
as she had come from her room to her elbow- 
chair, she exclaimed with emotion ; " The Lord 
hath been present with my soul this morning 
in a remarkable manner. What he means to 
convey to my mind I know not. It may be my 
approaching departure. My soul is filled with 
glory. I am as in the element of heaven Itself" 



PARTING. 317 

Weakened by a complicated disorder, she 
was, a week preceding her departure, confined 
to her bed. But her powers of mind were 
unimpaired. They were employed constant- 
ly, either in expressions of hope or thanks- 
giving concerning her own spiritual state, or 
in directing the work of God. Almost the 
last moments of life were occupied in suggest- 
ions concerning a mission to Otaheite, in the 
South Seas. When unable to hold a pen, she 
dictated a letter in relation to this project. 
Thus her ruling passion was strong in death: 
a sanctified passion for work^ work in the 
cause of Christ. 

She expressed no impatience under her own 
pain, but great tenderness for those who 
night and day watched, with faithful atten- 
tion and Christian love, at her bedside. 

She appeared, during the tedious nights 
and days of pain and sickness, engaged in 
prayer, and animated with thankfulness for 
the unutterable mercies which she had experi- 
enced, saying : " I am encircled in the arms 



318 LADY HUNTINGDON PORTRAYED. 

of love and mercy. I long to be at home. 
O ! I long to be at borne." A little before 
she died, she said repeatedly: "I shall go to 
my Father to-night. Can he forget to be 
gracious? Is there any end to his loving kind- 
ness?" 

With her expiring breath she whispered, 
" My work is done. I have nothing to do 
but to go to my Father." 

The reader will recollect that, during the 
early part of Lady Huntingdon's widowhood, 
she resided at Ashby, a village of the Hunt- 
ingdon domain. Here is the church in which 
the Hastings family had for generations wor- 
shiped. It is an ancient, handsome stone edi- 
fice. It consists of a nave and two aisles, 
separated by four lofty arches springing from 
the fluted pillars. The chancel is neat and 
spacious. On each side is a large chapel, 
projecting considerably wider than the church; 
that on the north is converted into a ves- 
try room; the south is the hurial jplace of 
the Hastings family. Here, under a mural 



PARTING. 319 

monument, lies Lord Huntingdon, and beside 
him his eminent countess. Her inscription in- 
forms the visitor that she died June 17, 1Y91. 

So the laborers in the vineyard of God fall. 
One by one they pass away. A few months 
only before the countess, John Wesley had 
died. Whitefield had anticipated her final tri- 
umph more than twenty years. Her early 
friend Charles Wesley had entered into rest. 
John Fletcher, greatly beloved notwithstand- 
ing polemic battles and differences of opinions, 
had for many years participated in the raptur- 
ous song of the redeemed. 

Of her distinguished co-laborers, Berridge, 
Romaine, and Yenn remained. But now these 
chosen instruments, and those saved by their 
agency, both the " noble few " and the hum- 
ble poor, have met to ascribe a common praise 
"to Him who hath redeemed them by his 
blood." 

THE END. 



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Porter^ s Compendium of Methodism. 

Large 12mo., pp. 501 Price $1 00. 

This most valuable work has reached its twelfth edition, and haa 
obtained, as it richly deserves, a wide and well-earned reputa- 
tion. The fact that our bishops have placed it on the course 
of study for preachers, must commend it to all Methodists, as 
a most reliable history. It presents an exhibit of Methodism 
in all countries, giving a faithful description of all the branches 
of the great Methodist family. It also shows the points of 
agreement and ditterence between the Methodist and other 
Churches, both in regard to doctrine and Church government, 
bringing out clearly the distinctive features of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

Horns Truths. 

By Rev. J. C. Ryle, B. A., Rector of Helmingham, 
England. 

16mo., pp.292 $0 33 

Seldom has a book been issued from the English press more 
vigorous with mental and moral vitality. It pretends to noth- 
ing recondite, though it treats often of subtle subjects; but it 
is pregnant with pithy thought, and there is a naturalness, an 
aptness, a freshness and fullness in its thoughts that render it, 
altogether, a most sterling and effective volume. Its fervid 
earnestness, though without pretentious rhetoric, becomes an 
infectious eloquence that sways the reader's mind and heart 
irresistibly, and bears him along from page to page, as by a 
sort of fascination. Its subjects are not only illustrated, and 
often in the happiest manner, but they are urged, and enforced, 
and reiterated, and pressed irresistibly home, with a manner 
so simple, so full of persuasion and entreaty, so tenderly sincere 
and solicitous, so increasingly emphatic as you pass from para- 
grajih to paragraph, that the reader can hardly fail to feel the 
moral spell of the book.— Editor's Preface. 

StricHandjH Bihlical Literature. 

A Manual or Biblical Literature. By William P. 
Strickland, D. D. 

12mo., pp.404 $0 80 

This work is divided into nine parts, treating severally of Biblical 
Philology, Biblical Criticism, Biblical Exegesis, Biblical Analy- 
sis, Biblical Archaeology, Biblical Ethnography, Biblical History, 
Biblical Chronology, and Biblical Geography. This enumeration 
will suffice to show the extent of the range of topics embraced 
in this volume. Of course they are treated summarily ; but the 
very design of the author was to ]irepare a compendious imtnual, 
and he has succeeded excellently. — Methodist Quarterly Review. 

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WOKKS PUBLISHED BY CAKLTON & PORTER, 

200 Mulberry-street, New- York. 

Stoughtoi}^ s Lights of the World. 

Lights of the World : or, Illustrations of Character, 
drawn from the Records of Christian Life. By the Rev. 
John Stoughton. 

12mo., pp. 305 $0 65 

It contains twelve sketches of eminent men — not, indeed, com- 
plete biographies, or even "full-length portraits of their spiritual 
excellence ;" but each set forth in narrative and description for 
the purpose of illusLrating some single element of vital god- 
liness. 

The subjects are: William Tyndale, or, Labor and Patience; 
Richard Hooker, or, a Soul in Love with God's Law and Holy 
Order; Eobekt Leigiiton, or, the Peacefulness of Faith ; The 
Hon. Robert Boyle, or, the Christian Philosopher; John 
BuNYAN, or, Spiritual Valor and Victory ; Richard Baxter, 
or, Earnest Decision; Mattheav Kenry, or, Meekness of 
Wisdom ; Gkorge Whitefield, or, Seraph-like Zeal ; John 
William Fletcher, of Madeley, or. Intense Devotion; John 
Newton, or, Social Ancctions Sanctified; Henry Martyn, 
or, Self-denial. 

The style is easy, sometimes eloquent, and always agreeable. 
The work is adapted to the times, and should be widely circu- 
lated. — Methodist Quartei-ly Rev'ev). 

Gregg on Infant Church Ifenibershvp. 

Infant Church Membership ; or, the Spiritual and Perma- 
nent Character of the Abraharaic Covenant. By the Rev. 
Samuel Gkegg. 

16mo., pp. S70 %Q 65 

We think the candid, unbiased reader will find in this little vol- 
ume an end of the controversy on the subject of the right of 
the children of believing parents to Church Membership.' The 
arguments of the writer are drawn f>-om the Scriptures of the 
Old and New Testaments, fairly taken and interpreted. The 
analysis is perfect, the premises sure, the inferences logical, 
the conclusions containing no mi>re than the premises warrant. 
. . . We confidently commend the ])ook to all who have any 
doubts on the subject of infant baptism. — Chr. Adv. and Jour. 

Temjporal Power of the Pope. 

Containing the Speech of the Hon. Joseph R. Chandler, 
delivered in the House of Representatives of the United 
States, January 11, 1855. ^Ylth Nine Letters, stating the 
prevailing Roman Catholic Theory in the Language of 
Taiial Writers. By John M'Clixtock, D. D. 

12!ro., pp. 154 $0 45 



WORKS PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

200 Mulberry-street, New- York. 

Harry Budd; 

Or, the History of an Orphan Boy. Beautifully Illustrated, 
and designed as a Gift-Book for the Holidays. 

Square 12nio., pp. 235 SO 60 

This is decidedly the hnt hoolc of its class we have ever read. The 
Orphan's story has nothing of the marvelous in it, yet it is so 
conducted as to impress — indelibly impress — the most instruct- 
ive lessons of rehirion— true evangelical {>iety in its most de- 
lightful form — on the heart and conscience; so to direct the life 
and secure the great end of our being ; so to worship and serve 
God as to obtain his favor here and eternal life at his hand 
in the world which is to come. — Dr. Bond. 

Heroes of Methodism. 

Containing Sketches of Eminent Methodist Ministei's, 
and Characteristic Anecdotes of their Personal History. 
By Rev. J. B. Wakeley, of the New-York Conference. 
With Portraits of Bishops x\sbury. Coke, and M'Kendree. 

Large 12mo., pp. 470 Si 25 

Dr. M'Clintock, who examined the work in manuscript, and is 
familiar with it, says, in the April number of the Quarterly 
Review, " It is a work of rare interest to the Methodist public, 
and will doubtless have a great run." 

Arthtir in America. 

Addresses delivered in New-York by the Rev. William 
Arthur, A. M. With a Biographical Sketch of the 
Author. Also, the Address of Rev. Dr. Adams, at the 
Broadway Tabernacle. "To get, to keep, to give." 
With a Portrait. Edited by W. P. Steickland, D. D. 

18mo., pp. 188 $0 55 

A most interesting and instructive volume. The claims of sys- 
tematic benevolence are forcibly urged. The wants of Ireland 
are set forth with great eloquence. The speech of Dr. Adams 
is refreshing, emanating as it does from an eminent divine in 
one Church advocating a great evangelical enterprise in another 
covn.ra-amon.— Southern Christian Advocate. 

Gold and the Gospel. 

Prize Essays on the Scriptural Duty of Giving in Proportion 
to Means and Income. With an Introduction by Rev. 
Jesse T. Peck, D. D. 

16mo., pp. 328 $0 36 



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WORKS PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

200 Mulberry-street, New Tork. 

Pioneers of the West; 

Or, Life in the Woods. By W. P. Strickland. 

Price $1 00 

The table of contents is quite attractive. The "West; Pioneer 
Explorers of the West ; Hunters of the West ; Pioneer Settlers ; 
Pioneer Preacliers ; Pioneer Institutions and Professional Men ; 
Pioneer Boatmen; The Prophet Francis; Logan, the Mingo 
Chief; The Mountain Hunter; Indian Captivity; The "Old 
Chief," or, the Indian Missionary; The Hermit; Panther Hunt- 
ing ; The Squatter Family; The Lost Hunter ; Wisconsin School- 
ma'am. These vivid pictures are sketches from life. The author 
takes his readers with him as he traces the path of the pioneer 
explorer, settler, hunter, or preacher, and we follow the blazed 
path in the wilderness, and witness the thrilling scenes which 
start up on every liill, and in every valley, and glen, and river, 
until the blood chills at some deed of savage warfare, or warms 
at the recital of some of the thrilling scenes and heroic inci- 
dents with which the work abounds. The interest is kept up 
through the whole volume, and the reader closes with the con- 
viction that truth is as strange and as entertaining as fiction, 
and certainly more instructive. The book is embellished witli 
some fine wood-cuts.— CA/'/«iia;i Advocate and Journal. 

The Youn-g Maii)s Counselor ; 

Or, Sketches and Illustrations of the Duties and Dangers 
of Young Men. Designed to be a Guide to success in 
this life and to happiness in the life which is to come. 
By Rev. D. Wise. 

12nio. SO 55 

The Young Ladifs Counselor ; 

Or, Outlines and Illustrations of the Sphere, the Duties, 
and the Dangers of Young Women. By Rev. D. Wise. 

12mo. Muslin $0 55 

Gilt Edges 75 

SUk 1 00 

Christ and Christianity. 

A Vindication of the Divine Authority of the Christian 
Religion, grounded on the Historical Verity of the Life 
of Christ. By William Lindsat Alexander, D. D. 
12nio.,pp. 314 $0 70 



WORKS PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

200 Mulberry-street, New-York. 

Stevens'' s Church Polity. 

An Essay on Church Polity ; comprising an Outline of the 
Controversy on Ecclesiastical Government, and a Vindi- 
cation of the Ecclesiastical System of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. By Rev. Abel Stevens, A. M. 

12mo., pp. 206 $0 60 

The first part of this work is an outline of the controversy on 
Claurcli Government in general, presenting the views of our 
own Church on the subject, and the authorities which support 
them ; the second part contains a discussion of the origin of 
our own system ; the third is an examination of its structure, 
explaining and defending its chief features, such as its itiner- 
ancy, its episcopacy, and its popular checks. 

Preaching PequirerJ hj the Times. 

Essays on the Preaching: required by the Times, and the 
best Methods of obtaining it ; with Reminiscences and 
Illustrations of Methodist Preaching, including Rules for 
Extemporaneous Preaching, and Characteristic Sketches 
of Olin, Fisk, Bascom, Cookman, Summerfield, and other 
noted Extemporaneous Preachers. By Abel Stevens. 
12mo., pp. 266 $0 65 

Daniel Verified in History and Chronology. 

Showing the Complete Fulfillment of all his Prophecies 
relating to Civil Affairs, before the close of the Fifth 
Century. By A. M. Osbon, D. D. 

12mo.,pp. 202 $0 60 

As the result of much patient study, Dr, Osbon has here given us 
new and striking views of that portion of Holy Writ to which 
his attention has been specially directed. His positions are 
antagonistic to those of all previous expositors with which we 
are acquainted. He states them clearly and forcibly, yet with 
becoming modesty; and meets the objections to his theory 
with arguments not easily refuted.— C%m. Adv. and Jour. 

The Lamp and the Lantern; 

Or Light for the Tent and the Traveler. By James Hamil- 
ton, D. D. 

18mo., pp. 202 $0 23 

A series of eloquent lectures and essays, mostly hortatory, in D. 
Hamilton's best vein, on subjects connected with the reading 
and propagation of the Bible. 



IWORKS PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

200 Mulberry-street, New- York. 



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Father Reeves. 

Father Reeves, the Methodist Class-leadee : a Brief 
Account of Mr. William Reeves, thirty-four Years a Class- 
leader in the Weslej-an Methodist Society, Lambeth, 
England. 

18mo., pp. 160. Muslin SO 18 

"VVe sincerely thank Mr. Corderoy for this little volume, which 
cannot fail of being perused with great advantage as an in- 
centive to strict punctuality, never-failing diligence, eminent 
devotedness, and fervent Christian zeal.— [London) S. S. Teach- 
ers'' Magazine. 

The narrative presents one of the most interesting developments 
of the honest man, fearing God and working righteousness, 
that for a long time has come before us: a fine specimen of 
the best order of Methodism in its best period. — Christian Wit- 
ness. 

A little volume which we should be glad to know had comfe into 
the hands of every officer of our societies of that honoured class 
to which Mr. Reeves belonged.— Watchman. 

Let " Father Reeves " pass along through all our congregations; 
he will leave a blessing wherever he goes. It is just the book 
to stir up the Church. A hundred thousand volumes should be 
scattered at once. — Rev. Abel Stevens. 

One of the richest of those "Annals of the Poor" which illus- 
trate so beautifully the history of Methodism as Christianity. . . 
We trust it will find readers by thousands upon thousands. — 
Methodist Qiutrterhj Review. 

The Philosophy of Faith. 
PHiLOsopnY AND Pkactice OF Faith By Le\v7s p. Olds. 
12mo., pp. 353. Muslin SO 65 

Part I. A General View of Faith — Pure, Simple, or Intellectual 
Faith — Practical, Relying, or Saving Faith — The Unity of Faith 
—A Living Faith and a Dead Faith— Unbelief the Native Con- 
dition of the Mind — Walk by Faith — The Three Antagonisms 
of Faith — Faith and V/orks — Increase and Diminution of 
Faith. 

Part II. Ancient and Modern Faith compared — Faith of Na- 
tions — Congregational Faith — Faith of the Christian Ministry 
-Prayer a"nd Faith— Faith of the Cloister— Faith of Active 
Life — Faith of the Ignorant — Faith of the Young— Faith 
in Prosperity — Faith in Adversity — Faith in Life and in Death. 

This book belongs to a class that has been rare of late years. 
It is a calm, thoughtful, yet uncontroversial survey of a great 
Christian doctrine in its bearings upon theology in general, and 
upon the Christian life in practice. We hope it may find many 
readers. -Methodist Quarterly Review. 



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